All around suboptimal health - a joint position paper of the Suboptimal Health Study Consortium and European Association for Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine

Abstract

First two decades of the twenty-first century are characterised by epidemics of non-communicable diseases such as many hundreds of millions of patients diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases and the type 2 diabetes mellitus, breast, lung, liver and prostate malignancies, neurological, sleep, mood and eye disorders, amongst others. Consequent socio-economic burden is tremendous. Unprecedented decrease in age of maladaptive individuals has been reported. The absolute majority of expanding non-communicable disorders carry a chronic character, over a couple of years progressing from reversible suboptimal health conditions to irreversible severe pathologies and cascading collateral complications. The time-frame between onset of SHS and clinical manifestation of associated disorders is the operational area for an application of reliable risk assessment tools and predictive diagnostics followed by the cost-effective targeted prevention and treatments tailored to the person. This article demonstrates advanced strategies in bio/medical sciences and healthcare focused on suboptimal health conditions in the frame-work of Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine (3PM/PPPM). Potential benefits in healthcare systems and for society at large include but are not restricted to an improved life-quality of major populations and socio-economical groups, advanced professionalism of healthcare-givers and sustainable healthcare economy. Amongst others, following medical areas are proposed to strongly benefit from PPPM strategies applied to the identification and treatment of suboptimal health conditions:Stress overload associated pathologiesMale and female healthPlanned pregnanciesPeriodontal healthEye disordersInflammatory disorders, wound healing and pain management with associated complicationsMetabolic disorders and suboptimal body weightCardiovascular pathologiesCancersStroke, particularly of unknown aetiology and in young individualsSleep medicineSports medicineImproved individual outcomes under pandemic conditions such as COVID-19.

Keywords: Adolescence; Artificial intelligence (AI); Behavioural patterns; Big data management; Body mass index (BMI); COVID-19; Cancers; Cardiovascular disease; Communicable; Dietary habits; Epidemics; Glycan; Health economy; Health policy; Individualised patient profile; Lifestyle; Liquid biopsy; Medical ethics; Microbiome; Modifiable preventable risks; Mood disorders; Multi-level diagnostics; Multi-parametric analysis; Natural substances; Neurologic diseases; Non-communicable diseases; Omics; Pandemics; Periodontal health; Predictive preventive personalised medicine (PPPM/3PM); Risk assessment; Sleep medicine; Stress overload; Suboptimal health status (SHS); Traditional medicine.

Fig. 1

Anorexic versus obese phenotype: the paradox of the health risks similarity; the figure is adapted from [5]

Fig. 2

Suboptimal health status is instrumental for predictive preventive and personalised medical care tailored to the person vulnerable to non-communicable diseases

Fig. 3

The 24 IgG glycan peaks as measured with ultra-performance liquid chromatography (71). Shown are the structure of the main IgG glycan component(s) per peak and their structure abbreviation. Structure abbreviations: F, α-1,6-linked core fucose; A, number of antenna's attached to the core sequence (existing of two N-Acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and three mannose residues); B, bisecting GlcNac β1–4 linked to β1–3 mannose; M, number of mannose residues; G, number of β1–4 linked galactoses; [3] G1, galactose on the antenna of the α1–3 linked mannose; [6] G1, galactose on the antenna of the α1–6 linked mannose; S, sialic acid linked to galactose. Structural schemes are defined as follows: blue square, GlcNac; green circle, mannose; red triangle, core fucose; yellow circle, galactose; and purple rhomb, sialic acid

Fig. 4

Individualised prevention strategies. Primary prevention includes individuals with no disease who receive preventive measures. Secondary prevention is screening to detect subclinical stages of diseases. Tertiary prevention is management of disease. SHS, suboptimal health status

Fig. 5

Standardised Baduanjin exercise by the Chinese Health Qigong Association (134). Each of the displayed movement brings certain function-enhancing benefits to particular parts of the body. A Prop up the sky with hands to regulate the triple energiser. B Draw a bow on both sides like shooting a vulture. C Raise single arm to regulate the spleen and stomach. D Look back to treat five strains and seven impairments. E Sway head and buttocks to expel heart fire. F Pull toes with both hands to reinforce the kidney and waist. G Clench fists and look with eyes wide open to enhance strength and stamina. H Rise and fall on tiptoes to dispel all diseases

Fig. 6

Trends in changes in the scores for SHS [50]. SHS, suboptimal health status

Fig. 7

Pulsating cupping devices, the figure is adapted from (142). A One tube connects with a Bian-stone cup. In the bottom of the Bian-stone cup, a micro-camera is set and connected wirelessly to a computer to monitor colour changes in the cup. B One tube connects with an acrylic cup to show the vibrations at various frequencies. C Schematic diagram of the device shows complex stimulation (vacuum and vibration) performed on the local tissues of the skin. min, minutes

Fig. 8

Immunoglobulin G effector functions are modulated by Fc-bound N-glycans, the figure is adapted from. GlcNAc, N-acetylglucosamine; ADCC, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity; FcyRIIB, Fc gamma receptor type IIB; MBL, mannose binding lectin

Fig. 9

Design of the gonadal hormone suppression intervention study

Fig. 10

Western medicine meets Eastern medicine — acting hand-in-hand in the frame-work of Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine (3PM/PPPM); skeleton (left). Meridian and acupoints (right)