The importance of biomarkers/genetic markers cannot be overstated. Biomarkers are one of the most integral part of clinical research and science. In a nutshell, biomarkers are the objective physical or biological measure of health conditions (DHS. n.d). There are several biomarkers available as an indicator or a measure of biological anomalies, such markers include but are not limited to cholesterol, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or C-reactive protein (CRP) (Dombey, Woodin, & Derenzo, 2012). The level of CRP or cholesterol could be used as inclusion criteria in selecting subjects for clinical studies (Dombey, 2008). Also, biomarkers could be used as an indicator for assessing the effectiveness of investigational new drugs or medicinal products (Ridker, 2003). In addition, it may be used prospectively in predicting the outcome of a research or risk of a disease or condition. For instance, CRP, a component of five 23kDa subunit pentraxin and a marker of inflammatory innate immune response has been shown as a reliable indicator in predicting majority of cardiovascular diseases; thus a CRP level >3 corresponds to prospectively high risk of cardiovascular events (Ridker, 2003).

The importance of a biomarker may not be limited to its predictive power of certain medical anomalies, but it could be an important factor in analyzing subject’s quality of life (QoL). QoL could be defined in an objective or subjective perspectives. In operational terms, QoL could define an individual’s behavior or level of functioning to an individual’s perception to health status or well-being (Muldoon, Barger, Flory, & Manuck, 1998). Hence, QoL varies depending on the subject and the situation, and yet even more difficult to quantify (Abbott, & Hart, 2005). Furthermore, for some patients or subjects with chronic diseases or conditions, well-being and quality of life may be centered within the mode of their ability to adapt and appreciate daily activities both psychological and physiological level of adaptation, and their coping mechanism (Muldoon, Barger, Flory, & Manuck, 1998). Perhaps, with the understanding that medical interventions or therapeutic measures effect on QoL is an insufficient factor on itself, QoL should be assessed before and after a clinical study or medical intervention in order to capture realistic assessment of an individual’s well-being (Abbott, & Hart, 2005).

References

Abbott, J., & Hart, A. (2005).  Measuring Quality of Life in Clinical Trials in CF: Another Piece in the Jigsaw. Retrieve from http://www.cfww.org/pub/english/cfwnl/11/64/Measuring QualityofLifeinClinicalTrialsinCFAnotherPieceintheJigsaw.

Dombey S. (2008). Lochol Study Synopsis Brochure.  Retrieve from https://class.waldenu. edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tabtabgroupid=21&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D5524541%26url%3D

Dombey,S., Woodin, K., & Derenzo, E. (2012). Retrieve from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapp s/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute% 2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_552454_1%26url%3D.

Department of Health Services (DHS). (n.d.). Using biomarkers to collect health data. Retrieved from http://www. measuredhs.com/aboutsurveys/biomarkers/start.cfm

Muldoon, M. F., Barger, S. D., Flory, J. D., & Manuck, S. B. (1998). What are quality of life measurements measuring? British Medical Journal, 316, 542–545. Retrieved from http://ezp. waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org /pqdweb?did=26606194&sid=1&Fmt=4&clientId=70192&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Ridker, P. (2003). Clinical Application of C-Reactive Protein for Cardiovascular Disease Detection and Prevention. Circulation. 107(3), 363-369.Doi:10.1161/01.cir.000005 3730.47739.3c. Retrieve from http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/107/3/363.full.