A risk factor is always a causal factor, while a prognostic factor has only
to be associated with a prognosis, not necessary to cause it; it can be only
a "marker" of that prognosis (so it can be a ... confounder, too).
cristian baicus
dr. Cristian Baicus
Spitalul Colentina
Clinica de Medicina Interna
Sos. Stefan cel Mare 19-21
sect. 2
020125 BUCURESTI
Romania
Mobil: 0788302355
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Christian Lerch" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: Examples of risk factors vs prognostic factors
>A common (?) view is that risk factors alter (usually increase) the
>probability of developing or aquiring a disease, while prognostic factors
>alter (usually increase) the probability of having an unfavourabale outcome
>of this disease: death, higher morbidity, more adverse effects,
>recurrence...
> Some risk factors are also prognostic factors.
>
> Examples:
> Presence of BRCA1/2 is a risk factor because it increases the probability
> of developing breast cancer.
>
> Higher number of affected lymph nodes is a prognostic factor because it
> increases the probability of having an unfavourable outcome (death).
>
> Age might be both a risk and a prognostic factor.
>
> HTH,
> Christian
>
> On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:55:56 -0400
> "Feddern-Bekcan, Tanya" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Hello, everyone. Could you please give me some examples of risk factors
>> and prognostic factors and how to differentiate between the two? For
>> example, having the breast cancer gene, having a family history of
>> breast cancer, being a heavy smoker, etc. This is for PICO-writing.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>>
>> Tanya
>>
>> Tanya Feddern-Bekcan, MLIS, AHIP, MOT, OTR/L
>> http://www.geocities.com/nqiya/libraryarticles.html
>> <http://www.geocities.com/nqiya/libraryarticles.html> formerly Tanya
>> Feddern
>> 305.243.6648 - [log in to unmask] - 305.325.9670 (fax) EBM Theme
>> Co-Director & Reference and Education Librarian Louis Calder Memorial
>> Library - University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
>>
>> "A library without a librarian is a reading room."-- Jenny Garcia of the
>> University of Wyoming, MLS, AHIP
>>
>>
dr. Cristian Baicus
Spitalul Colentina
Clinica de Medicina Interna
Sos. Stefan cel Mare 19-21
sect. 2
020125 BUCURESTI
Romania
Mobil: 0788302355
[log in to unmask]
www.baicus.ro
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