COVID-19 seen from a syndemic perspective: Impact of unhealthy habits and future perspectives to combat these negative interactions in Latin America

Audrey Borghi-Silva; Guilherme Dionir Back; Adriana S Garcia de Araújo; Murilo Rezende Oliveira; Cássia da Luz Goulart; Rebeca Nunes Silva; Daniela Bassi; Renata Gonçalves Mendes; Ross Arena

doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2022.04.006

COVID-19 seen from a syndemic perspective: Impact of unhealthy habits and future perspectives to combat these negative interactions in Latin America

Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2022 Mar-Apr:71:72-78. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2022.04.006. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Authors

Audrey Borghi-Silva¹, Guilherme Dionir Back², Adriana S Garcia de Araújo², Murilo Rezende Oliveira², Cássia da Luz Goulart², Rebeca Nunes Silva², Daniela Bassi³, Renata Gonçalves Mendes⁴, Ross Arena⁵

Affiliations

¹ Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Laboratory, LACAP, Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL - PIVOT) Network, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: audrey@ufscar.br.
² Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Laboratory, LACAP, Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
³ Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL - PIVOT) Network, Chicago, IL, USA; Postgraduate Program in Management and Health Services, Ceuma, University, São Luís, MA, Brazil.
⁴ Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Laboratory, LACAP, Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL - PIVOT) Network, Chicago, IL, USA.
⁵ Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL - PIVOT) Network, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL., USA.

Abstract

COVID-19 has to this point led to more than 5 million deaths and has imposed numerous measures restricting populations worldwide, including Latin America (LA). However, analyzing COVID-19 from the perspective of a syndemic, it demonstrates the relationship between the interaction of multiple comorbidities and the increase of contagion in people who are socially vulnerable. The number of deaths by COVID-19 in LA is strongly associated with multi-morbidities (diabetes, obesity, sedentary, smoking, among others) and disproportionately attacks communities located in poorer, low-income regions and ethnic minorities. This review aims to revisit the relationship between COVID-19 and both unhealthy living habits (i.e., sedentary lifestyle, poor nutritional habits, overweight and obesity, smoking) and cardiovascular disease in Latin American countries. In addition, this review aims to introduce strategies and policies that combat social inequalities and enable healthy living behaviors in LA countries. If LA countries do not work on public policies that decrease multi-morbidities and social inequalities, we will be unable to eliminate COVID-19, as well as possible other outbreaks that may arise in the future.

Keywords: Inequalities; Latin America; Pandemic; Poverty, comorbidities.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Habits
Humans
Latin America / epidemiology
Obesity / epidemiology
Syndemic