PopulationCriteria

Defines which population a recommendation applies to through multiple criteria with AND/OR logic.

Canonical URL: https://healthschema.org/PopulationCriteria

Namespace: hs:

Category: Conditional Recommendations

Properties

Properties from PopulationCriteria (in addition to properties inherited from Intangible and Thing):

Property	Expected Type	Description
mustMatchAll	Boolean	Whether ALL criteria must be true (AND logic) or ANY criterion qualifies (OR logic)
criteria	PopulationCharacteristic or LabValueCriterion (multiple)	Individual conditions that define the population
optionalRiskAmplifiers	ClinicalCriterion (multiple)	Additional factors that further increase risk but aren't required for qualification

Examples

Example 1: Simple OR Logic (High-Risk Screening)

Patient qualifies if ANY criterion is met:

JSON-LD

{
  "@context": [
    "https://schema.org",
    {
      "hs": "https://healthschema.org/",
      "PopulationCriteria": "hs:PopulationCriteria",
      "PopulationCharacteristic": "hs:PopulationCharacteristic"
    }
  ],
  "@type": "PopulationCriteria",
  "mustMatchAll": false,
  "criteria": [
    {
      "@type": "PopulationCharacteristic",
      "characteristic": "Age 65 or older",
      "operator": "OR",
      "rationale": "Age alone qualifies for screening"
    },
    {
      "@type": "PopulationCharacteristic",
      "characteristic": "Family history of colorectal cancer",
      "operator": "OR",
      "rationale": "Genetic risk qualifies for earlier screening"
    },
    {
      "@type": "PopulationCharacteristic",
      "characteristic": "Personal history of polyps",
      "operator": "OR",
      "rationale": "Previous findings qualify for enhanced surveillance"
    }
  ]
}

Example 2: Complex AND Logic with Risk Amplifiers

Patient must meet multiple criteria, with additional risk modifiers:

JSON-LD

{
  "@context": [
    "https://schema.org",
    {
      "hs": "https://healthschema.org/",
      "PopulationCriteria": "hs:PopulationCriteria",
      "PopulationCharacteristic": "hs:PopulationCharacteristic",
      "LabValueCriterion": "hs:LabValueCriterion",
      "ClinicalCriterion": "hs:ClinicalCriterion"
    }
  ],
  "@type": "PopulationCriteria",
  "mustMatchAll": true,
  "criteria": [
    {
      "@type": "PopulationCharacteristic",
      "characteristic": "Type 2 diabetes diagnosis",
      "operator": "AND",
      "rationale": "Required base condition"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LabValueCriterion",
      "test": "HbA1c",
      "value": 7.5,
      "comparator": "GreaterThan",
      "unitText": "percent",
      "rationale": "Indicates suboptimal glucose control"
    },
    {
      "@type": "PopulationCharacteristic",
      "characteristic": "BMI greater than 30",
      "operator": "AND",
      "rationale": "Obesity compounds metabolic dysfunction"
    }
  ],
  "optionalRiskAmplifiers": [
    {
      "@type": "ClinicalCriterion",
      "characteristic": "Hypertension",
      "impactOnRisk": "Increases cardiovascular complication risk"
    },
    {
      "@type": "ClinicalCriterion",
      "characteristic": "Sedentary lifestyle",
      "impactOnRisk": "Reduces insulin sensitivity further"
    }
  ]
}

Usage Notes

When to Use PopulationCriteria

Use PopulationCriteria when:

Within ConditionalRecommendation — Used to define who recommendations apply to
Multiple conditions matter — When more than one criterion determines eligibility
Logic matters — When AND vs. OR makes a clinical difference
Risk stratification — When identifying high-risk populations for targeted interventions

AND vs. OR Logic

Choosing the Right Logic

mustMatchAll: true (AND): Use for strict eligibility criteria where ALL conditions must be met
- Example: Clinical trial enrollment
- Example: Intensive treatment protocols requiring multiple qualifying factors
mustMatchAll: false (OR): Use for inclusive screening where ANY criterion qualifies
- Example: Identifying high-risk populations for preventive care
- Example: Screening programs with multiple entry points

Risk Amplifiers vs. Criteria

Use optionalRiskAmplifiers for factors that:

Increase risk but aren't required for the recommendation to apply
Help identify patients who need more intensive intervention within the qualified population
Explain variability in outcomes among qualified patients
Guide personalization within the protocol

Best Practices

Include rationale — Explain why each criterion matters clinically
Use appropriate operators — Set operator on characteristics to show logic flow
Combine criterion types — Mix demographic, lab, and clinical criteria as needed
Document risk amplifiers — Help clinicians identify patients needing enhanced intervention

Related Types

Health Schema Types

Schema.org Types

MedicalIndication — Use for simple single-criterion indications