Health Equity in the Care of Adult Critical Illness Survivors

Abstract

There is evidence that people who fare worse in recovery do so, not only because of their illness, but also because of social and structural determinants. For example, food insecurity and poor nutrition, unemployment, poverty, social isolation and loneliness, limited social support, and poor access to medical care represent marked obstacles to recovery. Those who experience social or structural disadvantage have a poor start to their critical illness journey and are more vulnerable to adverse material conditions that contribute to and worsen their health outcomes.

Keywords: Critical illness; Health disparity; Health equity; Post-intensive care syndrome; Social determinants of health; Socioeconomic.