of the time. As a medical doctor and public health practitioner who cares for patients living with non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, and cancer, the direct relationship between the socio-economic position of patients and their health status is no surprise.defines SDoH as “the non-medical factors or the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.
First, there is no chance of addressing SDoH without reliable data for decision-making. Clinical treatment only contributes betweenThus, better awareness of non-medical drivers, complemented by accurate data collection on SDoH by providers, governments, and community health organisations, is critical for patient stratification, targeted intervention, and overall improved quality of care for the populations they serve.
Third, family support for those suffering from NCDs is imperative. Social determinants of health often present a matter of life and death. In clinical practice, older adults with NCDs who live alone or lack social support often present life-threatening complications than those who have caregivers like healthy spouses, children who reside with or close to them, or home care workers.
Lastly, government policies and non-health sectors significantly control SDoH. For instance, a health worker can counsel an educated, middle-class patient on the importance of physical activity and tobacco cessation for myocardial infarction prevention.