Redefining disease definitions and preventing overdiagnosis: time to re-evaluate our priorities

摘要: In their paper, Ray Moynihan and colleagues1 analyse the problems of disease thresholds their impact on expanding definitions, overdiagnosis, overtreatment wasted resources. The group calls for a new approach to developing definitions that includes being primary care led, people-centred, independent commercial interests informed by better guidelines. The authors highlight several concerns with current definitions. For example, approximately half older population are defined as having chronic kidney disease, yet many asymptomatic no negative day-to-day living. New gestational diabetes have meant prevalence has doubled, without clear indication outcomes may be affected. Furthermore, hypertension guidelines labelled adult hypertensive. Changing place considerable burden patients an overly stretched healthcare system is required manage these ‘phantom conditions’. Primary likely …