(This is a draft and truncated version - for final and full version, see
Concise Encyclopedia of Biostatistics for Medical Professionals)
proximal and distal measures of health and disease, see also primordial factors
Proximal measures of health are those that directly measure state of health in a person or a community. Common examples are various morbidity and mortality rates. Physiological and pathophysiological processes that lead to disease and infirmity are also included among proximal measures. Distal measures are those that indirectly measure health. These are the measurement of those factors that predispose the health condition and give rise to proximal measures, such as diet, smoking and hygiene. Genetic factors and environmental factors such as pollution and water supply contribute to this process of reaching to proximal from distal. Assessment of social factors such as income, occupation and education is also included among distal measures.
Proximal measures of health such as morbidity indicators and mortality rates are described separately in detail. We have also discussed growth indicators of children, indicators of adolescent health, adult health and geriatric health. These all are proximal measures although many of these apply to communities and not to individuals. Distal measures are also discussed separately under the topics social health (indicators) and mental health (indicators of). Holistic definition of health includes ... ...
For final and full version, see
Concise Encyclopedia of Biostatistics for Medical Professionals
Concise Encyclopedia of Biostatistics for Medical Professionals)
proximal and distal measures of health and disease, see also primordial factors
Proximal measures of health are those that directly measure state of health in a person or a community. Common examples are various morbidity and mortality rates. Physiological and pathophysiological processes that lead to disease and infirmity are also included among proximal measures. Distal measures are those that indirectly measure health. These are the measurement of those factors that predispose the health condition and give rise to proximal measures, such as diet, smoking and hygiene. Genetic factors and environmental factors such as pollution and water supply contribute to this process of reaching to proximal from distal. Assessment of social factors such as income, occupation and education is also included among distal measures.
Proximal measures of health such as morbidity indicators and mortality rates are described separately in detail. We have also discussed growth indicators of children, indicators of adolescent health, adult health and geriatric health. These all are proximal measures although many of these apply to communities and not to individuals. Distal measures are also discussed separately under the topics social health (indicators) and mental health (indicators of). Holistic definition of health includes ... ...
For final and full version, see
Concise Encyclopedia of Biostatistics for Medical Professionals