Risk Management and Risk Assessment in Physiology: Analysis of Modern Developments on Their Foundation

Abstract

Risk management (RM) and risk assessment (RA) are foundational tools in modern science and engineering, but their integration into the field of physiology is increasingly gaining attention. This review explores how contemporary risk science principles can enhance physiological understanding, clinical decision-making, and biomedical system resilience. Drawing upon key research developments, this paper evaluates the conceptual parallels between risk frameworks and physiological systems, such as the handling of uncertainty, adaptive decision-making, and systemic vulnerability. The review identifies emerging trends such as knowledge-based risk characterizations, dynamic modeling in high-uncertainty environments, and integrative frameworks incorporating resilience and robustness into health systems. It also highlights critical challenges in conceptual clarity, stakeholder communication, and probabilistic limitations within physiological contexts. This paper aims to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue and future research that combines physiological science with modern RM and RA methodologies to better predict, prevent, and manage health-related outcomes in complex biological systems.