Paper highlights COVID-19 disparities

Sravani Singu

Studies show that those with preexisting conditions are most at risk for becoming severely ill when stricken with COVID-19 during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.

But who is most likely to have these preexisting conditions?

“Systemic social inequality and discrepancies in socioeconomic status contribute to higher incidence of asthma, CVD (cardiovascular disease), hypertension, CKD (chronic kidney disease) and obesity in segments of the general population,” a UNMC team concluded in a recent publication.

In other words, populations that were vulnerable before a pandemic are especially vulnerable during one.

“Pandemics are more of a social problem than a health care problem,” the UNMC team wrote in “Impact of Social Determinants of Health on the Emerging COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States,” published July 21 in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.

Led by lead author Sravani Singu, a third-year student in the UNMC College of Medicine, the team wrote that the key to fighting an outbreak is to consider the various factors that play a role in the well-being of a nation. Appropriate and timely education, health care, and social services can be effective measures taken to address outbreaks, such as COVID-19.

“It is imperative to respond rapidly and effectively during times of a health emergency. In order to achieve that, it is crucial to be educated about all of the factors that may play a role in health and health care before an outbreak of disease even occurs,” the team wrote.

The five social determinants of health (SDOH) — health and health care, social and community context, neighborhood and built environment, education and economic stability — are interrelated and play a major role in the COVID-19 pandemic, the team determined. Incorporating SDOH into preventing the spread of disease and to approach patient care in a holistic manner can help minimize unfair differences, both socially and economically.

“When pandemics occur, it is everyone’s responsibility to create equal opportunities to stay healthy,” said senior author Siddappa Byrareddy, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology and experimental neuroscience in the UNMC College of Medicine.

29 comments

  1. Chalapathi Naidu.P says:

    Hi Great Sravani.Congratulatins

  2. Kilari says:

    Congrats sravani. Well done. Keep it up

  3. G.K. Kalaivani says:

    Super Sravani. Keep it up.

  4. Pushpavathi says:

    Congratulations Sravani , very good ma๐Ÿ‘

  5. M UMAPATHI NAIDU, NV PALLI says:

    Congratulations Sravani

  6. Madan Mohan says:

    Congratulations Sravani ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽŠ, way to go ! Keep up the good work

  7. Surendra says:

    Congratulations Sravani and thank you for educating us about Covid-19

  8. Anonymous says:

    Well done keep it up congratulations Sravani this is indira ammama from India ( sushma aunt mother)

  9. Padmavathi says:

    Great Sravani keep it up

  10. Venu Potineni says:

    Congratulations Sravani!!

  11. Rajesh Bapu says:

    Good Sravani….well done
    Rajesh

  12. Anonymous says:

    Wise comment.i appreciate the young student who focused on this pandemic that awaken humans at a critical juncture of civilisation that exposed the weakens es of socoio political… systems..

  13. Kusum K. Kharbanda, PhD says:

    Congratulations Sravani and Sid !

  14. Muralidhar Chintapalli says:

    Congratulations Sravan, Good work!!!

  15. Gangadhar Mundluru says:

    Excellent Sravani

  16. Venu Bandi says:

    Nice work Sravani! Way to go!!

  17. Rajya Lakshmi says:

    Nice work, keep it up.

  18. Sagar says:

    Excellent article Sravani , lot of information , great work..Thank you

  19. Ganti R K Sharma says:

    The article is a Mirror of all those social determinants(irrespective of regions and continents), that has impact on covid-19.
    Prof.sharma,veterinary university, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA.

  20. Srinivas KNJ says:

    Nice work. Congrats and keep going

  21. Bhaskararao Mikkilineni says:

    Very good sravani.. keep going..

  22. Santhi says:

    Excellent presentation
    Best wishes to Sravani
    From
    Santhi

  23. Anil Tati says:

    Excellent Sravani!!. You and your team took a very contemporary subject and did a very comprehensive study which is usefull for such situations in future. We are all proud of you!!!

  24. S. S. Ramakrishna says:

    The five determinates of health and health care related to Corona virus and it's effects
    On socio economic situation in USA is presented in a impressive way.
    Good work by Sravani and deserved for appreciation. With this recognition your responsibility has gone up and expect more and more such presentations for enlighting the society

  25. M. Mythili says:

    Congratulations Sravani Good

  26. madhusudhan rao pulipati says:

    Great job Sravani.

  27. Karunakar Kakarla says:

    Congrats, humanitarian work

  28. Subbarao Cherukuri says:

    Excellent Sravani๐Ÿ‘ ..keep going..

  29. Madhu Raavi says:

    Good analysis on showing importance of social determinants in disease control and prevention. Well done Sravani!

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