Chapter 7: Respiratory System
Gillian Spring
Background
Respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 and chronic respiratory diseases continue to be underestimated population health challenges. Both remain among the top 6 causes of death for Canadians (Statistics Canada, 2023). Respiratory health promotion and disease prevention are extremely important in both community and acute care settings.
The Social Determinants of Health in Relation to Respiratory Health
COVID-19
- In their systematic review, Green et al. (2021) found that racialized people, socioeconomically disadvantaged people, and women were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Green et al. (2021) stated that racialized and low-income populations suffered greater mortality rates during the pandemic and women experienced increased rates of intimate partner violence during periods of lockdown. They found there was a direct correlation between the social determinants of health and the outcomes for adults during the pandemic (Green et al., 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the already alarming rate of health inequalities and has acted as a wake-up call for governments and public health professionals (Green et al., 2021).
- COVID-19 disproportionately affected Black communities, which had higher infection and mortality rates and lower vaccination rates (Abrams et al., 2022). A quantitative study by Dalsania et al. (2022) gathered COVID-19 mortality statistics throughout the United States and found that the rates of mortality were higher in counties with a higher percentage of Black residents. The study also found that the social determinants of health were a driving factor in these increased rates (Dalsania et al., 2022).
- In their systematic review, Abrams et al. (2022) found that the COVID-19 affected the physical (respiratory and systemic) health of individuals globally. It also had the following adverse social effects on the pediatric population:
- increased homelessness and housing insecurity
- increased food insecurity
- reduced familial income
- reduced quality of education
- increased abuse and mistreatment
- systemic racism
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) include smoking, genetic predisposition, infections, malnutrition, aging, occupational exposures, air pollutants, asthma, and low socioeconomic status (Safiri et al., 2022). Many of these risk factors are directly related to the social determinants of health. Individuals with COPD may also experience a poorer prognosis if they have other diseases such as cancer, COVID-19, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorder, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental health conditions (Safiri et al., 2022).
- In their cross-sectional study, Lee et al. (2023) discovered that communities with socioeconomic struggles such as poverty, unemployment, lower income, and less education experienced higher mortality of respiratory diseases further reinforcing t