Considering as many as possible coral damages might allow to obtain a more complete overview of human pressure causes and effects. So, the integration of the category “diseased coral colonies”(DIC) in the index calculation, provides important information and might be useful for a better understanding of the health status of reefs. Diseases are an early signal of coral stress; indeed, it was observed that both climate and human activities may induce physiological stress, compromising host resistance and increasing frequency of opportunistic diseases. Anthropogenic pollutants, habitat degradation and over fishing have led to a recent increase in disease outbreaks in many reef ecosystems and organisms. The several stressors affecting coral reefs, particularly along heavily urbanized coastlines, as well as introductions of new species to distant reefs by global trans-port, are contributing to concerns about extinction risks and loss of biodiversity. More anthropic areas may be threatened by acute stresses, including destructive fishing practices, as well as anchor damage and ship groundings, and chronic stresses,including sewage pollution, increased sedimentation, nearshore eutrophication, and industrial pollution.