sygdomsprogression

Disease progression, in a medical context, refers to the course of a disease over time as it develops, worsens, or stabilizes. In Danish and Norwegian, the term sygdomsprogression denotes disease progression. Progression is often described in terms of a natural history, which may be linear, curvilinear, stepwise, or characterized by periods of stability interspersed with decline. Some conditions exhibit prodromal phases or remission, while others show continuous deterioration despite treatment.

Clinically, progression is assessed with disease-specific measures such as functional scales, imaging findings, laboratory biomarkers, and patient-reported outcomes. In oncology, progression-free survival tracks time to progression or death. In neurology and other fields, standardized scales and biomarkers help quantify rate of decline. Because measurement varies by disease, the exact pace of progression is highly heterogeneous among individuals.

Multiple factors influence progression, including the biology of the disease, genetics, age, comorbid conditions, lifestyle, and access to effective treatment. Therapeutic interventions often aim to slow progression, preserve function, and prevent complications. Adherence, early diagnosis, and monitoring frequency affect observed trajectories.

Researchers use models to study progression and prognosis, ranging from descriptive natural history studies to multistate or Markov models that estimate transition probabilities between stages. In clinical care, understanding progression supports prognosis estimation, treatment planning, and shared decision-making, while recognizing uncertainty and individual variation.

Examples span many domains: degenerative diseases where function declines over years, cancers with advancing stage, and chronic infections where organ damage progresses despite therapy. Ethical considerations include communicating prognosis and balancing humility with patient autonomy.