It’s been a while since I have published a “Basics” series article.
I am grateful for the interest I have received on this humble blog of my musings in areas from economic development to novel treatment modes and health policy. Some of the feedback I have received has been concerning my occasionally excessive use of jargon and acronyms. My intention with this blog was to provide accessible insights that are both relevant and beneficial to peers within this interest and subject area as well as others who are simply interested in discussion about statistical trends in healthcare or the role of pharma in public health. Some of these terms are explained further in other articles within “the basics” section of this blog – I have linked those articles where relevant. 🙂
So here’s my growing list of acronyms and jargon for clarification:
AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome
ARVs: Antiretrovial drugs for the treatment of HIV
BMI: Body mass index – (Healthy BMI is generally accepted to be 18.5 – 24.9)
BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa – large, growing middle-income nations
CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDs: Communicable Diseases
COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
DALY: Disability Adjusted Life Year
FDA: United States Food and Drug Administration
GWAS: Genome Wide Association Study
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
MAb: Monoclonal Antibody
MDG: Millennium Development Goals
NCDs: Non-communicable Diseases
NGO: Non-governmental Organization
NTDs: Neglected Tropical Diseases
OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
PEP: Post-exposure Prophylaxis
SDG: Sustainable Development Goal (based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development)
T2DM: Type II Diabetes Mellitus
TB: Tuberculosis
WHO: World Health Organization
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