prognóz

Prognóz is a term used to describe the forecast for the likely course and outcome of a patient’s disease or health condition. In medical contexts, prognosis encompasses the expected duration of illness, chances of recovery, risk of complications, and potential mortality. It is based on clinical findings, disease stage, functional status, patient age, comorbidities, and response to treatment, as well as disease biology and available therapies. Prognoses are often conveyed qualitatively (favorable, intermediate, unfavorable) or quantitatively in probabilities and time frames (for example, estimated survival over a given period).

Prognostic factors are patient or disease characteristics that influence the outlook. Many models and risk scores combine several factors to estimate prognosis. Common tools include survival analyses, such as Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression, as well as disease-specific staging systems and nomograms. Prognosis can vary across diseases and even among individuals with similar clinical presentations, reflecting biological diversity and treatment differences.

The prognosis is not a certainty; outcomes can differ from predictions due to unknown factors and changes in treatment. Clinicians use prognosis to guide medical decisions, counseling, and planning for care, including considerations of intensive treatment, monitoring, and palliative options. Communicating prognosis involves balancing honesty with sensitivity and acknowledging uncertainty.

Prognosis applies across medical fields, including oncology, cardiology, neurology, infectious diseases, and chronic conditions. Ongoing prognosis research seeks to identify reliable prognostic factors, improve predictive models, and tailor forecasts to individual patients and diverse populations.