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Letter
On the definition of relevant disease
  1. B J Marais
  1. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Centre for TB Research and Education (CENTRE), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505, Cape Town, South Africa; bjmarais@sun.ac.za

    https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2003.042754

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      Historically the art of medicine was defined by the ability to develop a personal reference for normality. This internal reference allowed the subjective identification of abnormality by pure clinical acumen. In contrast, modern medicine provides an objective scientific definition of abnormality, based on accurate measurement and statistical analysis. However, the medical profession still struggles to find the optimal balance between the art (subjective) and the science (objective), in providing holistic health care.

      Statistical differentiation into normal and abnormal serves us well when dealing with continuous physiological variables like blood pressure, cholesterol, or weight. The differentiation becomes problematic …

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