Risk factor

In epidemiology, a risk factor or determinant is a variable associated with an increased risk of disease or infection.^[1]^: 38

Due to a lack of harmonization across disciplines, determinant, in its more widely accepted scientific meaning, is often used as a synonym. The main difference lies in the realm of practice: medicine (clinical practice) versus public health. As an example from clinical practice, low ingestion of dietary sources of vitamin C is a known risk factor for developing scurvy. Specific to public health policy, a determinant is a health risk that is general, abstract, related to inequalities, and difficult for an individual to control.^[2]^[3]^[4] For example, poverty is known to be a determinant of an individual's standard of health.

Risk factors may be used to identify high-risk people.

^ Parritz, Robin Hornik (2017-05-24). Disorders of childhood : development and psychopathology. Troy, Michael F. (Michael Francis) (Third ed.). Boston, MA. ISBN 9781337098113. OCLC 960031712.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Improving Health in the Community: A Role for Performance Monitoring: 2. Understanding Health and Its Determinants: A Model of the Determinants of Health. National Academy of Sciences: National Academies Press: Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Using Performance Monitoring to Improve Community Health. 1997. ISBN 978-0309055345. Unlike a biomedical model that views health as the absence of disease, this dynamic framework includes functional capacity and well-being as health outcomes of interest. It also presents the behavioral and biologic responses of individuals as factors that influence health but are themselves influenced by social, physical, and genetic factors that are beyond the control of the individual.
^ "Health Impact Assessment (HIA): Glossary of terms used". World Health Organization. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
^ "Health Impact Assessment (HIA): The determinants of health". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on May 30, 2004. Retrieved July 20, 2019.

[:0-1] Parritz, Robin Hornik (2017-05-24). Disorders of childhood : development and psychopathology. Troy, Michael F. (Michael Francis) (Third ed.). Boston, MA. ISBN 9781337098113. OCLC 960031712.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[2] Improving Health in the Community: A Role for Performance Monitoring: 2. Understanding Health and Its Determinants: A Model of the Determinants of Health. National Academy of Sciences: National Academies Press: Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Using Performance Monitoring to Improve Community Health. 1997. ISBN 978-0309055345. Unlike a biomedical model that views health as the absence of disease, this dynamic framework includes functional capacity and well-being as health outcomes of interest. It also presents the behavioral and biologic responses of individuals as factors that influence health but are themselves influenced by social, physical, and genetic factors that are beyond the control of the individual.

[3] "Health Impact Assessment (HIA): Glossary of terms used". World Health Organization. Retrieved July 20, 2019.

[4] "Health Impact Assessment (HIA): The determinants of health". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on May 30, 2004. Retrieved July 20, 2019.

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