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Fungal Infections and Social Determinants of Health: Using Data to Identify Disparities
Samantha L Williams1, Kaitlin Benedict1, Mitsuru Toda1
1Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop H24-11, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
Fungal diseases disproportionately affect certain demographic populations, but few studies have thoroughly investigated the drivers of those disparities. We summarize data sources that can be considered to explore potential associations between fungal diseases and social determinants of health in the United States.
Recent Findings:
Sociodemographic disparities are apparent in fungal diseases, and social determinants of health (e.g., income, living conditions, and healthcare access) may be associated with increased risk of infection, severe disease, and poor health outcomes.
Summary:
Numerous data sources are available in the United States to analyze the potential association between fungal diseases and underlying social determinants of health. Each source has benefits and limitations that should be considered in the development of analysis plans. Inherent challenges to all fungal disease data (e.g., underdiagnosis, underreporting, and inability to detect people who do not seek medical care) should be noted and accounted for in interpretation of results.
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