Abstract
To evaluate the health status and to find high risk individuals to be treated, various kinds of studies have been conducted. There are 2 methods to give the meaning of the measured data from health examination. One is the method based on the product management procedure to find irregular products and gives relative position in the population. It is clear to understand the image of relative health status. However, relative position does not mean the risk itself. If the population is at the high risk, individuals are also at the high risk for diseases.
The latter method is based on epidemiological evidences. After following population at risk for more than 10 years, study participants are divided into control group and exposure groups. Mortality or incidence rates were calculated for these groups and estimated relative risk for exposure. Using relative risks and absolute risks derived from prospective studies. Recent Japanese guidelines are based on epidemiological evidences. Combinations of risk factors are also useful to find high risk individuals.
It is clear that the method to identifying risk for disease should be based on epidemiological evidences.
