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.
Hi Great Sravani.Congratulatins
Congrats sravani. Well done. Keep it up
Super Sravani. Keep it up.
Congratulations Sravani , very good ma👏
Congratulations Sravani
Congratulations Sravani 🎉🎊, way to go ! Keep up the good work
Congratulations Sravani and thank you for educating us about Covid-19
Well done keep it up congratulations Sravani this is indira ammama from India ( sushma aunt mother)
Great Sravani keep it up
Congratulations Sravani!!
Good Sravani….well done
Rajesh
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..
Congratulations Sravani and Sid !
Congratulations Sravan, Good work!!!
Excellent Sravani
Nice work Sravani! Way to go!!
Nice work, keep it up.
Excellent article Sravani , lot of information , great work..Thank you
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.
Nice work. Congrats and keep going
Very good sravani.. keep going..
Excellent presentation
Best wishes to Sravani
From
Santhi
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!!!
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
Congratulations Sravani Good
Great job Sravani.
Congrats, humanitarian work
Excellent Sravani👍 ..keep going..
Good analysis on showing importance of social determinants in disease control and prevention. Well done Sravani!