Suboptimal health: a new health dimension for translational medicine

This paper exemplifies the characterization of the suboptimal health status (SHS) which represents a new public health problem in a population with ambiguous health complaints such as general weakness, unexplained medical syndrome and chronic fatigue. We applied clinical informatics approaches and developed a questionnaire for measuring SHS. The validity and reliability of this approach were evaluated in a small pilot study and then in a cross-sectional study of 3,405 individuals.The final questionnaire congregated into a score (SHSQ-25) which could significantly distinguish among several abnormal conditions.SHSQ-25 could be used as a translational medicine instrument for health measuring in the general population.Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it indicates the general condition of a people's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, stress, injury or pain [1]. In 1946, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" [2,3]. Although WHO health definition has been subject to controversy, in particular as having a lack of operational value and the problem created by use of the word "complete", it remains the most enduring [4,5]. Classification systems such as the WHO Family of International Classifications, including the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), are commonly used to define and measure the components of health.In China, there has been an increase in the number of people who report suboptimal health in the absence of a diagnosable condition, which we coined as suboptimal health status (SHS) [6,7]. SHS is a physical state between health and disease, and is characterized by 1) the perception of health complaints, general weakness and low energy within a period of 3 months. 2)