Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Nov 18:66:102325.
doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102325. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Social determinants of health as drivers of fungal disease

Affiliations
Review

Social determinants of health as drivers of fungal disease

Jeffrey D Jenks et al. EClinicalMedicine. .

Abstract

Disparities in social determinants of health (SDOH) play a significant role in causing health inequities globally. The physical environment, including housing and workplace environment, can increase the prevalence and spread of fungal infections. A number of professions are associated with increased fungal infection risk and are associated with low pay, which may be linked to crowded and sub-optimal living conditions, exposure to fungal organisms, lack of access to quality health care, and risk for fungal infection. Those involved and displaced from areas of armed conflict have an increased risk of invasive fungal infections. Lastly, a number of fungal plant pathogens already threaten food security, which will become more problematic with global climate change. Taken together, disparities in SDOH are associated with increased risk for contracting fungal infections. More emphasis needs to be placed on systematic approaches to better understand the impact and reducing the health inequities associated with these disparities.

Keywords: Fungal infections; Health care access; Social determinants of health; Structural conflict; Working conditions.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest and Sources of Funding: JDJ received research funding from Astellas, F2G, and Pfizer—all outside of the submitted work. JP has received speakers’ fees from Gilead Sciences, Pfizer, Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, Associated of Cape Cod, served at advisor boards for Gilead Sciences and Pfizer and holds stocks of Novo Nordisk and AbbVie Inc—all outside of the submitted work. RS received speaker fees and travel support from Pfizer—all outside of the submitted work. DS received speaker fees from Pfizer—all outside of the submitted work. OAC reports grants or contracts from BMBF, Cidara, EU-DG RTD (101 037 867), F2G, Gilead, MedPace, MSD, Mundipharma, Octapharma, Pfizer, Scynexis; Consulting fees from Abbvie, AiCuris, Biocon, Cidara, Gilead, IQVIA, Janssen, Matinas, MedPace, Menarini, Moderna, Molecular Partners, MSG-ERC, Noxxon, Octapharma, Pfizer, PSI, Scynexis, Seres; Honoraria for lectures from Abbott, Abbvie, Al-Jazeera Pharmaceuticals/Hikma, Gilead, Grupo Biotoscana/United Medical/Knight, ISHAM Working Group, MedScape, MedUpdate, Merck/MSD,Noscendo, Pfizer, Shionogi, streamedup!; Payment for expert testimony from Cidara; Participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board from Boston Strategic Partners, Cidara, IQVIA, Janssen, MedPace, PSI, Pulmocide, Shionogi, The Prime Meridian Group; A patent at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DE 10 2021 113 007.7); Stocks from CoRe Consulting, EasyRadiology; Other interests from Wiley. GRT received research and consulting fees from Astellas, Cidara, F2G, Mayne, Melinta, Mundipharma, and served on the DRC for Pfizer—all outside of the submitted work. DPK received honoraria and research support from Gilead Sciences, Merck, United Medical, and Astellas Pharma. He received consultant fees from Astellas Pharma, Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Ciadara Therapeutics, Mayne Pharma, and is a member of the Data Review Committee of Cidara Therapeutics, AbbVie, Scynexis, and the Mycoses Study Group–all outside of the submitted work. MH received research funding from Gilead, Astellas, Euroimmune, MSD, IMMY, Mundipharma, Scynexis, and Pfizer—all outside of the submitted work. All authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Social determinants of health and fungal infections.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Strategies to decrease risk of fungal infections by SDOH.

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Minority health: Racism and health. https://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/racism-disparities/index.html Available at:
    1. Jenks J.D., Aneke C.I., Al-Obaidi M.M., et al. Race and ethnicity: risk factors for fungal infections? PLoS Pathog. 2023;19(1) - PMC - PubMed
    1. Choi W.Y. Mortality rate of patients with COVID-19 based on underlying health conditions. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2021:1–6. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Maness S.B., Merrell L., Thompson E.L., Griner S.B., Kline N., Wheldon C. Social determinants of health and health disparities: COVID-19 exposures and mortality among African American people in the United States. Public Health Rep. 2021;136(1):18–22. - PMC - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization Social determinants of health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1 Available at: