This includes the #progression of the disease, the symptoms that are experienced, and the #outcomes that are typically seen.
✶ https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-0-387-93835-6_5/figures/5_2_147978_1_En
The #naturalhistory of a disease refers to the course that the disease takes in the absence of any treatment.
✶ Natural History of Disease Timeline:
https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section9.html (CDC Principles of epidemiology, 2nd ed.)
Discussion
#Subclinical disease, extending from the time of #exposure to #onset of disease symptoms, includes the #incubation period and the #latency period.
✶ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Schematic-of-disease-natural-history-model_fig4_305324845
For example, the latency period for #leukemia to become evident among survivors of the #atomicbomb blast in #Hiroshima ranged from 2 to 12 years, peaking at 6–7 years.
✶ (CDC Table 1.7)
By understanding the natural history of a disease, physicians, researchers, and epidemiologists can better determine the #impact that a treatment is having on the disease compared to the progression of a patient left to their own devices.
✶ https://heart.bmj.com/content/95/7/524
A #cohort study is the best way to identify natural history of a disease; However, this type of study is less useful for examination of rare events or those that take a long time to develop.
✶ Comparison of Prospective Natural History Study Designs
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11830217/
When designing a clinical #trial, considering the natural history of a disease is fundamental to ensuring that the trial is adequately #powered to detect any differences between the novel treatment and #control groups.
✶ https://premier-research.com/perspectives/patient-registries-and-natural-history-studies/
✶ https://www.evidera.com/natural-history-studies-in-rare-diseases-and-genetic-biomarkers/
Ready for a comprehension quiz?
✎ https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/quiz.html
