In the hypothetical example that follows, patients coming into a clinic with disease symptoms are classified as having varying degrees of severity, from Stage 0 to Stage 4. Stage 4 represents the most severe symptoms; Stage 0 includes those with symptoms only but not the disease. The available treatment is expected to benefit those groups differently, and add extra years of life to each person as shown in the Gain (each person) row in the table. Please answer questions 5 through 7.
? $\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|}
\hline & \text {Stage 4 }& \text {Stage 3} & \text { Stage 2} & \text {Stage 1 }& \text {Stage 0 }& \quad\
\hline \text { Gain (each person) }& 45 & 30 & 4 & 1 & 0 & \
\hline \text {Number of persons coming to clinic }& 4 & 4 & 12 & 20 & 60 & \
\hline
\end{array}$

-Assuming that the clinic treats first those patients who are sickest and stand to benefit most, the total benefits obtained by treating more and more patients can be displayed graphically, where the total benefits line eventually flattens out. This is often called "flat of the curve" medicine.

Question

In the hypothetical example that follows, patients coming into a clinic with disease symptoms are classified as having varying degrees of severity, from Stage 0 to Stage 4. Stage 4 represents the most severe symptoms; Stage 0 includes those with symptoms only but not the disease. The available treatment is expected to benefit those groups differently, and add extra years of life to each person as shown in the Gain (each person) row in the table. Please answer questions 5 through 7. 
? $\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|}
\hline &  \text {Stage 4 }&  \text {Stage 3} & \text { Stage 2} &  \text {Stage 1 }&  \text {Stage 0 }& \quad\
\hline \text { Gain (each person) }& 45 & 30 & 4 & 1 & 0 & \
\hline  \text {Number of persons coming to clinic }& 4 & 4 & 12 & 20 & 60 & \
\hline
\end{array}$

-Assuming that the clinic treats first those patients who are sickest and stand to benefit most, the total benefits obtained by treating more and more patients can be displayed graphically, where the total benefits line eventually flattens out. This is often called "flat of the curve" medicine.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "flat of the curve" medicine concept refers to the point at which additional medical interventions provide diminishing returns in health outcomes. In this scenario, as patients with less severe stages of the disease (who gain less from treatment) are treated, the total benefits increase at a decreasing rate, eventually flattening out as those with no gain from treatment (Stage 0) are reached.

In the Hypothetical Example That Follows, Patients Coming into a Clinic