Global Burden of Disease: Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities

These flashcards are designed to help students review key concepts related to the global burden of disease, social determinants of health, epidemiology, and health disparities as covered in the lecture.

What is the Global Burden of Disease (GBD)?

A comprehensive assessment of the health challenges faced by populations worldwide, measuring the impact of diseases, injuries, and risk factors.

What are Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)?

A measure that combines years of life lost due to premature death and years lived with disability to quantify overall disease burden.

What is the purpose of the Global Burden of Disease Study?

To identify key global health challenges and trends to enable prioritization of interventions and resource allocation.

What does descriptive epidemiology consider in terms of health data?

Person, Place, and Time variables affecting disease occurrence and distribution.

How are social determinants of health defined?

The conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces shaping these conditions.

What factors contribute to health disparities?

Social, economic, and environmental factors that limit access to opportunities for a healthy life.

What are primary prevention methods?

Measures taken to prevent diseases before they occur, such as vaccinations and health education.

What characterizes Group I causes of disease?

Includes communicable diseases, maternal diseases, perinatal diseases, and nutritional conditions.

What diseases are included in Group II causes of disease?

Non-communicable diseases including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental disorders.

What does a health state refer to?

An individual’s level of functioning across various health domains such as mobility, cognition, and self-care.

What defines 'Full health'?

Optimal functioning in all important health domains without any disease or illness.

Define disability in the context of health.

The restriction or lack of ability to perform activities considered normal due to an impairment or health condition.

How are DALYs calculated?

By adding years of life lost (YLL) due to premature mortality and years lived with disability (YLD).

What does YLD stand for?

Years Lived With Disability, measuring lost years of healthy life.

What does YLL stand for?

Years of Life Lost, measuring years lost due to premature mortality.

What is life expectancy?

The average number of years a person is expected to live based on average age at death in a population.

What is Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY)?

A measure of years of life lived adjusted for quality of life, often used in health economics.

How are DALYs and QALYs different?

DALYs measure disease burden while QALYs measure quality of life in health years lived.

What is the good news regarding child mortality according to the GBD?

The mortality rate of children aged 1-4 has significantly declined.

What major health issue has increased despite the rise in life expectancy?

Chronic diseases are causing people to spend their later years in poor health.

What factor is the leading risk for death worldwide?

Poor diet is identified as the leading risk factor.

What is the healthy migrant effect?

The observation that healthier, younger individuals often make up the majority of migrants to a new country.

What are two hypotheses regarding mental health and social class?

Social causation and downward drift hypotheses explain the association between mental illness and social class.

What is the relationship between marital status and health?

Generally, married individuals tend to have lower morbidity and mortality rates.

What defines health disparity according to Healthy People 2020?

A health difference that is closely linked with economic, social, or environmental disadvantage.

What does health equity strive for?

To reduce and ultimately eliminate disparities in health and its determinants.

What factors influence health and healthcare disparities?

Race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, and geography, among others.

Who is more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors?

Typically, younger individuals as a result of socioeconomic factors.

What do 'age differences' in health outcomes refer to?

Variations in disease occurrence based on age sub-groups, from childhood to older adults.

How is stress related to health outcomes?

Stressful life events can lead to increased chances of illness, particularly with support and lifestyle factors.

What can be impacted by social support in health?

It can buffer against stress and enhance immune function.

What lifestyle factors are aspects of health-related personal behavior?

Dietary practices, exercise levels, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

Define primordial prevention.

Preventing health hazards through general improvements in economic, social, and cultural conditions.

What is a major challenge in calculating the burden of disease in developing countries?

Ensuring data quality from diverse sources.

What impacts the distribution of health events over time?

Cyclic fluctuations, point epidemics, secular trends, and clustering.

What does clustering in epidemiology refer to?

An unusual aggregation of health events in time and space.

Define social incongruity theory in health.

A hypothesis suggesting that status discrepancies can affect health and morbidity.

What are some examples of localized place comparisons for disease?

Fluorosis associated with fluoride deposits and goiter linked to iodine deficiency.

What type of disease is associated with urban conditions?

Diseases exacerbated by crowding, pollution, and poverty.

What is the significance of social epidemiology?

It studies the social distribution and determinants of health states.

What are two types of barriers formed by low socioeconomic status?

Poor housing and lack of healthcare access.

What is the significance of geographic variations in disease rates?

They can reflect diverse environmental, cultural, or health access factors.

What role does economic stability play in health?

It is a vital social determinant linked to health outcomes and disparities.

How does acculturation affect health?

Changes in health patterns due to adaptation to a new cultural environment.

What defines the term 'nativity' in health demographics?

The place of origin of individuals, differentiating between native-born and foreign-born.

How can religious practices influence health outcomes?

Certain religious lifestyles may promote healthier behaviors, reducing morbidity.

What defines the relationship between race and health disparities?

Differential health outcomes linked to socioeconomic obstacles and discrimination.

What is the relationship between racial and ethnic diversity and life expectancy?

Life expectancy varies across racial and ethnic groups due to social and economic factors.

What are the consequences for Pima Indians' health status?

Significantly higher mortality rates for certain causes compared to all races.

What health issues are prevalent among Hispanic/Latino populations?

High rates of obesity and diabetes, as seen in studies like HHANES.

Why are some areas reported to have higher disease rates?

Environmental and social conditions unique to those locations can create localized health patterns.

Describe the significance of housing conditions in relation to health disparities.

Housing stability and quality are key in mitigating health risks and improving outcomes.

Why is it essential to understand the social context of health?

Social environments significantly influence health behaviors, outcomes, and access to care.

What is a major contributing factor to childhood developmental problems?

Socioeconomic conditions impacting access to healthcare and early interventions.

What is the general outcome for individuals with severe mental illness in low social classes?

They tend to experience higher rates of illness and barriers to treatment.

What public health approaches prioritize in addressing health disparities?

Equitable resource allocation and targeted interventions for at-risk populations.

What determines the impact of social policies on health?

Social determinants like economic policies and healthcare access.”},{