EQ 2 - is there a link between disease and levels of economic development?

what is the epidemiological transition?

a model that describes the relationship between development and changing patterns of population, age distribution, mortality, fertility, life expectancy, and causes of death
these changes are caused by improvements in healthcare, standards of living, and quality of the environment

what are the four stages of the epidemiological transition?

1) the age of pestilence and famine
2) the age of receding pandemics
3) in post-industrial societies, the rate of mortality slackens
4) the age of delayed degenerative diseases

what is the age of pestilence and famine?

mortality is high, life expectancy is low (30 years)
mortality is mainly caused by poor sanitation, contaminated drinking water + low standard of living
populating growth is slow

what is the age of receding pandemics?

epidemics causing large scale mortality are rare due to advances in medicine, diet + hygiene, and improvements in living standards
life expectancy >50, population growth is sustained
main cause of death becomes chronic + degenerative diseases

what is the stage of post industrial societies, where the rate of mortality slackens?

further improvements in medicine etc causes the rate of mortality to slacken
degenerative diseases become main cause of death
man made diseases associated with environmental change (cancer) become more common

what is the age of delayed degenerative diseases?

medical advances delay the onset of degenerative CVD
raised life expectancy in ACs from early seventies to mid eighties
obesity + diabetes become increasingly common + problematic health factors

what are three examples of factors that affect the progression of the epidemiological model?

improvements in technology, lifestyle + work habits, misuse of antibiotics

what are diseases of affluence?

non-communicable diseases which are thought to be the result of increasing wealth in society

what are four factors that influence the rise of diseases of affluence?

lack of exercise, medical advances, social factors, cultural changes

how does lack of exercise influence the rise of diseases of affluence?

people are less physically active due to:
transition from primary/secondary sectors to tertiary/quaternary sectors → less physical labour + more office based/sedentary jobs
working hours and commutes → long working hours mean people have little leisure time, so even less time to exercise + main use of commute is by vehicle

how do medical advances influence the rise of diseases of affluence?

less exposure to pathogens from infancy → developed healthcare leads to reduced exposure, hygiene hypothesis states this may be a contributor to the rise of autoimmune diseases (allergies)
overuse of drugs + antibiotics → alters gut microbe, affecting immune system
longer life expectancy → people are living long enough to develop age-related chronic conditions

how do social factors influence the rise of diseases of affluence?

increase in stress, weakened social bonds, and influence of social media can lead to mental disorders (depression, anxiety, eating disorders)

how do cultural changes influence the rise of disease of affluence?

rise in sedentary lifestyles as many jobs are office based
rise of globalisation means that there is easier access to fast foods → poor diet can cause obesity and diabetes