Health status measures: an overview and guide for selection.

Health status is not a term that is commonly used or instantly understood. Most people, even those who are familiar with health care, would consider it professional jargon. The major reason that this term has eluded simple definition is the lack of an agreed-upon definition of health. The broad definition of healthl proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 has been repeated and supported for many years. Yet, few have tried to operationalize this definition so that it can be used to assess the level of health among a group of people. An operational definition of health is essential before the health level or health status of an individual or a population can be assessed. Arriving at such a definition has become increasingly difficult as the emphasis of medical and health care has shifted from decrease in mortality and increase in longevity to improvement in the health-related quality of life. Length of life is the ultimate measure of health status where acute illnesses that are potentially fatal are concerned. But in chronic illnesses, where palliative therapies or therapies that may prevent further deterioration are concerned, the relevant measure of health status is likely to include domains of health other than length of life.