Chronic Illness and Quality of Health: Association of Income and Health

CHRONIC ILLNESS AND QUALITY OF HEALTH 1
Association of Income and Health
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CHRONIC ILLNESS AND QUALITY OF HEALTH
Is Income Associated With Chronic Illness And Quality Of Health?
Introduction
Sound health is significant because it influences how people feel and their daily
interactions. Most Australians aged above 15 years report that they have sound health, but
this could mean differently for different populations (Chang et al. 2015). Health is not just the
absence of illness but reflects the lifestyle, socioeconomic factors, environmental factors,
genetic as and cultural influences. Australia’s health 2016 deciphers health from various
standpoints such as the chronic illnesses that are most prevalent in Australia and the
particular socioeconomic inequalities that affect various groups within the population
(DeLaune, 2013). The latter also provides an overview of the Australian health system and
describes the services that are meant to minimize the occurrence of chronic illnesses in
Australia.
The report showed that Australia’s life expectancy was one of the highest globally
and that incidences of cardiovascular illnesses had dropped significantly. Despite this, more
than 11 million Australians had been diagnosed with at least one chronic illness in 2014-15.
The report further showed that the Australians that lived in remote and rural areas had poorer
health and life longevity as compared to those living in the suburb areas. In this paper, it is
argued that low-income individuals are more likely to experience chronic illness and poor
quality of health, as they are more exposed to common risk factors owing to their
socioeconomic status. This can be indicated by the prevalence of chronic illnesses among
low-income individuals who experience poor food security, are more exposed to risks of
child poverty and other social determinants of health, and are not likely to adhere to
medication regimen because of associated costs.
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CHRONIC ILLNESS AND QUALITY OF HEALTH
Discussion
Chronic diseases are commonly regarded as ‘diseases of affluence,’ as they have
traditionally been associated with wealthy and elderly people (Somrongthong et al., 2016;
Suhrcke et al., 2006). For that reason, there is a popular belief that chronic illnesses like
cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, cancers,
cerebrovascular diseases, and mental illnesses only affect individuals from high-income
families. Contrary to such expectations, chronic illnesses are not only prevalent among the
affluent people. Such chronic and gradually progressive diseases have today become
increasingly prevalent in consequence of considerable changes in lifestyles owing to the large
variations of income levels between individuals in the low income and upper-income groups.
Such observable patterns have appeared to disregard oversimplified conclusions.
Figure 1.3.3: Leading causes of death, by sex, Australia 2013
Various studies have indicated that chronic diseases and associated risk factors inflict
a significant burden on low-income individuals. Globally, chronic diseases are reported to
have consisted of 71.3 percent, or about 40 million, of all deaths that occurred between 1980
and 2015 (Okediji et al., 2017). In relation to this indication, a 2017 report by the World
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CHRONIC ILLNESS AND QUALITY OF HEALTH
Health Organization (WHO) indicates that 80 percent of mortalities that arise from chronic
diseases were reported in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) (Okediji et al.,
2017). Chronic diseases make up the largest proportion of total deaths in many developing
regions of the world, apart from sub-Saharan Africa.
Although the incidence of risk factors for chronic illnesses may vary from one
country to the next, studies have indicated that the degree of their severity is high in countries
that are not particularly affluent, particularly the low-income and middle-income countries
(Suhrcke et al., 2006). In the contemporary society, low-income status is associated with
chronic illness and poor quality of health. Low-income individuals are at greater risks of
chronic illnesses than high-income individuals as they are more exposed to risk factors like
smoking or lack of exercise.
Low-income status is associated with poor food insecurity, which may, in turn,
increase exposure to a chronic illness and poor quality of health. Food insecurity is an
inability of an individual to afford nutritious food to live a healthy and active life (Seligman,
Laraia, Kushel, 2010). There is a growing awareness in the healthcare sector that social
determinants of health lead to health disparities and or health outcomes (Food Research &
Action Center, 2017). A relevant example of a social determinant of health in this regard
includes food insecurity; low-income families may not sustainably afford a healthy diet.
Families from low-income residents tend to have fewer resources that support good
health, such as access to nutritious foods and recreational facilities that allow them to prevent
the development of chronic diseases. Accordingly, low-income status is associated with
poverty and food insecurity, and ultimately poor health incomes. Some studies have indicated
the relationship between food insecurity and poor health outcomes (Seligman et al., 2010). In
Seligman’s et al. (2010) study, the researchers found that majority of adults surveyed who
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