Subclinical infections are important since they allow infections to spread from a reserve of carriers. They also can cause clinical problems unrelated to the direct issue of infection.

Why are subclinical diseases significant?

The identification of subclinical disease may therefore provide a very important marker of the effects of risk factors, such as lipoprotein levels, blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and diabetes, on the cardiovascular system among relatively asymptomatic individuals.

What does subclinical mean?

Disease, subclinical: An illness that stays "below the surface" of clinical detection. A subclinical disease has no or minimally recognizable clinical findings.