Social Determinants of Health, Chronic Disease Management, and the Role of the Primary Care Provider-to Include Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, Diabetes, Major Causes of Morbidity and Mortality as Affected by Social Determinants of Health.

Abstract

Despite advances in health science and medical technology, health outcomes continue to fall behind in certain communities. A recent study linking health outcomes to zip code may explain part of this disparity, social determinants of health. Although well known that patients in resource-poor environments have worse outcomes than patients with advantages, the exact reason for this disparity may not be so well known. This article aims to explore the physiologic basis for worsening disease states in patients with poor social determinants of health, as well as start a discussion surrounding possible screening and interventions that can be performed in a primary care office to promote patient health.