a type of composite measure in which multiple individual outcomes are combined at the patient level into a single score according to predefined rules. This approach allows researchers and clinicians to capture a more complete picture of a patient’s status or treatment response by integrating several related outcomes into one interpretable measure.
Abbreviation: MOD
Example
The Disease Activity Score in Rheumatoid Arthritis (DAS28) is a well-known MOD. It combines tender joint count, swollen joint count, and an inflammatory marker (ESR or CRP) with the patient’s global assessment of disease activity into a single composite score, enabling clinicians to classify disease activity levels (high, moderate, low, remission).