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Clinical Risk

Meaning

Clinical risk quantifies the probability of an adverse health outcome, such as developing a specific disease, experiencing a complication from a treatment, or suffering a mortality event, within a defined population over a specified period. This assessment integrates patient-specific factors, including genetic predispositions, lifestyle habits, and existing comorbidities, to guide proactive management and preventative strategies. Clinicians use clinical risk stratification to personalize therapeutic decisions, moving beyond general population statistics. The objective is to proactively manage potential negative health trajectories.