Quantities and units in medical science: a plea for standardization

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Pathophysiology
• Quantitative Medicine

Background:

• Medical practice and research are susceptible to misconceptions from technical innovations.
• A relative lack of interest in quantitative aspects of pathophysiological processes contributes to this vulnerability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the risks of neglecting quantitative aspects in medicine.
• To demonstrate how improved attention to quantitative methods can prevent confusion and enhance understanding of pathophysiological relationships.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of three case studies illustrating problems arising from a lack of quantitative rigor.
• Case study 1: Confusion regarding the definition of oxygen saturation of haemoglobin.
• Case study 2: Resistance to the implementation of International System of Units (SI-units).
• Case study 3: Issues in the standardization of haemoglobinometry.

Main Results:

• Technical innovations can introduce and perpetuate misconceptions when quantitative definitions are unclear or ignored.
• Resistance to standardized units (like SI-units) hinders consistent measurement and comparison.
• Lack of standardization in measurements (e.g., haemoglobinometry) leads to variability and potential misinterpretation.

Conclusions:

• Increased focus on the quantitative aspects of pathophysiological processes is crucial for accurate medical practice and research.
• International agreement on definitions, quantities, and units is essential for advancing quantitative scientific medicine.
• Addressing these quantitative challenges can prevent dangerous confusion and deepen insights into disease mechanisms.