The Gap of Health Inequalities Amongst Lung Cancer Patients of Different Socioeconomic Status: A Brief Reference to the Greek Reality.
Amalia A SofianidiAlexandra KaradimouAndriani G CharpidouKonstantinos N SyrigosPublished in: Cancers (2024)
Lung cancer treatment and patient care are constantly improving, but it remains doubtful whether this applies equally to all socioeconomic groups. It is nowadays well established that there are socioeconomic inequalities regarding lung cancer incidence, screening, effective treatment, overall survival, and prognosis. One of the key contributing factors to low socioeconomic status is low education. Low educational level is correlated with several factors, such as smoking habits, bad lifestyle behaviors, lower paid and unhealthier occupations, polluted neighborhoods, and genetic-familial risk, that lead to increased lung cancer incidence. The disparities regarding lung cancer care are further enhanced by stigma. On this basis and inspired by the gap in health equality among the Greek population, the Greek Society of Lung Cancer initiated a campaign, "MIND THE GAP", to help increase awareness and minimize the gap associated with lung cancer, both in Greece and across Europe. The aim of this review is to explore the gap of health inequalities regarding lung cancer incidence and prognosis between patients of different SES and its root of causality. Key pivotal actions towards bridging this gap are reviewed as well.
Keyphrases
- healthcare
- end stage renal disease
- public health
- mental health
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- risk factors
- health information
- peritoneal dialysis
- emergency department
- type diabetes
- heavy metals
- hepatitis c virus
- physical activity
- social media
- risk assessment
- hiv infected
- health promotion
- electronic health record
- virtual reality