Discussion – Epidemiology and Surveillance

Discussion – Epidemiology and Surveillance

Causes of Morbidity and Mortality in Amarillo, Texas

In Amarillo, Texas, the leading causes of morbidity and mortality are consistent with the broader state and national trends. In this regard, the primary causes of death are heart disease, cancer, accidents, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, chronic liver disease/ cirrhosis, and kidney disease. In this assignment, my focus is on diabetes due to its increased prevalence, which makes it a disease of important public health concern in Randall County. To understand its epidemiology, the epidemiological triangle is applied with its three components: agent, host, and environment.

Epidemiological Triangle

The agent is concerned with the cause of the disease. This can be biological, chemical substances, or physical causes. In an infectious disease, the agent is typically a microbe that causes infection. In chronic diseases, the agent might be a factor, such as a carcinogen or a nutrition deficiency. In this case, the agent in diabetes is a malfunction of insulin production. The host is the organism, typically a human or animal, that harbors the disease. The host’s characteristics can influence the susceptibility to the disease (John & Kompithra, 2023)

The factors include genetic predisposition, age, sex, immune status, lifestyle, and behaviors. For diabetes, host factors include genetic susceptibility, obesity, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and other lifestyle factors. Lastly, the environment encompasses all external factors that the agent and the opportunity for exposure. This includes physical, biological, social, and economic factors. Environmental factors can either facilitate or hinder the transmission of the disease. For diabetes, environmental factors include access to healthcare, availability of healthy foods, opportunities for physical activity, and socioeconomic conditions (John & Kompithra, 2023).

Application of Epidemiological Triangle on Diabetes

The application of this triangle is applicable in diabetes, where the agent turns out to be a biological malfunction related to insulin production or resistance. Type 1 diabetes involves the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells, while type 2 diabetes primarily involves insulin resistance and inadequate insulin production. The hosts, in this case, are the individuals with a predisposition to diabetes. They may include obese individuals, those with a sedentary lifestyle, those consuming high-calorie diets, or ones with other risk factors such as hypertension and genetic factors. The environment in regard to diabetes epidemiology comprises socioeconomic status, cultural and dietary practices, and availability of healthcare and educational resources (John & Kompithra, 2023).

Population Impact of Diabetes

The impact of diabetes on the population cuts across economic, health, social, and community at large. To begin with, an economic impact is brought about by the healthcare costs and the loss of productivity. High health cost is associated with diabetes due to its increased demand for continuous medical care. In Randall, these costs are locally handled and hence pose financial stress to individuals, families, and the healthcare system. Also, diabetes affects the productivity of a workforce due to increased absenteeism from work to cater to the health needs of affected individuals, as well as reduced productivity due to its complications. These two impacts of diabetes lead to significant negative economic impacts. Secondly, the impact of diabetes on health is attributed to high morbidity and mortality in Randall County. It reduces the life expectancy and quality of life of individuals with diabetes. Also, diabetes can lead to dire complications such as blindness, kidney failure, and, to some extent, amputations. These complications increase hospitalization and cause long-term disabilities affecting the ability of people to live independently (Khan et al., 2020).

The social impact of diabetes is brought about when the disease interferes with an individual’s quality of life, resulting in the need for lifestyle adjustments. Again, the chronic nature of the disease can cause psychological stress and depression, hence disturbing the quality of life. Diabetes increases the family or caregiver burden when the condition is complicated. This burden may be emotional or financial. Moreover, diabetes places a healthcare system strain on the community due to the increased need for healthcare needs and increased demand for resources channeled to diabetes management (Khan et al., 2020).

Intervention Strategies for Diabetes

The intervention for diabetes involves activities that prevent the occurrence of diabetes, treatment to mitigate complications, and providing support to reduce morbidity and mortality related to diabetes. Prevention activities involve primary prevention, such as health education and screening programs. Secondary prevention involves early diagnosis management, and lifestyle modifications. These activities include regularly monitoring blood glucose levels and weight loss. The tertiary prevention involves chronic disease management and support groups. The examples include comprehensive medical management, regular checkups, and patient education on how to prevent complications, along with support groups that provide emotional and social support that helps patients adhere to treatment (Onteri et al., 2023).

Role of Surveillance in Promoting Health and Preventing Illness

Surveillance of epidemiological data is vital for understanding the prevalence and occurrence trends of a disease. Some of the surveillance activities include tracking new cases, monitoring complications, and evaluating the effectiveness of the interventions. These activities guide the allocation of resources according to need, hence promoting justice and equity in healthcare resource distribution. Most importantly, continuous surveillance and analysis of trends guide timely response and reduction of outbreaks, hence improving population health and preventing illness.

References

John, T. J., & Kompithra, R. Z. (2023). Eco-epidemiology triad to explain infectious diseases. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 158(2), 107. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_3031_21

Khan, M. A., Hashim, M. J., King, J., Govender, R. D., Mustafa, H., & Al Kaabi, J. (2020). Epidemiology of type 2 diabetes – Global burden of disease and forecasted trends. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 10(1), 107–111.

Onteri, S. N., Kariuki, J. M., Mathu, D., Wangui, A. M., Magige, L., Mutai, J., Vyolah Chuchu, Karanja, S., Ahmed, I., Mokua, S., Nekesa, C., & Zipporah Bukania. (2023). Diabetes health care specific services readiness and availability in Kenya: Implications for Universal Health Coverage. PLOS Global Public Health, 3(9), e0002292–e0002292. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002292

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Background Information
During the assessment of your community core, morbidity and mortality rates will be identified. As you gather that data for the purpose of community assessment, you will also use those findings to apply epidemiological principles through this assignment. As you investigate the findings and apply the concepts, consider the value of disease prevention and control within your local community.

Epidemiology and Surveillance

Instructions

1. Review the appropriate rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

2. Read Chapters 13, 14, and 22 in the textbook, Public Health Nursing: Population-centered Health Care in the Community.

3. Conduct a search to identify the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in your selected geographic community. Find at least two current scholarly sources to support your explanations and insights. OCLS resources are preferred sources and can be accessed through IWU

Resources. Wikipedia is not permitted, as it is not a peer-reviewed, scholarly source. Consider selecting a communicable or chronic disease other than cardiovascular disease, which is the most prevalent chronic disease in the world.

4. Navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to the following:
a. Conduct a search to identify the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in your selected geographic community. Report your findings briefly.
b. Based upon your findings, select one communicable or chronic disease of public health concern within the identified geographic community, and apply the epidemiological triangle or web of causation to explain the epidemiology of that disease process.
c. From a population-focused perspective, what is the impact of the selected chronic or communicable disease you have identified? Explain your response.
d. Identify and describe intervention strategies for this disease from the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention.
e. Specific to your selected disease, discuss how surveillance of epidemiological health data serves to promote the health of a population and prevent illness.

5. Whether written or spoken, interactions are expected to:
a. clearly and thoroughly address the prompt with meaningful information that shows critical thinking.
b. introduce your own ideas and questions to add greater depth to the discussion, rather than restating what your classmates have shared. (Include much more than “Great post,” or “I agree.”)
c. refer to relevant course concepts as you discuss your learning together.
d. develop insightful conversation by directly addressing your classmates’ ideas.
e. demonstrate professionalism.

6. Based on your educational setting, complete tasks in the instructions below.