The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A syndemic perspective

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has affected communities, populations, and countries throughout the world. As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic developed, the extent to which the disease interacted with already existing endemic, noncommunicable and infectious diseases became evident, hence deeply influencing health outcomes. Additionally, a synergistic effect has been demonstrated also with socio-economic, cultural, and contextual determinants of health which seem to contribute to poorer health and accumulating social disadvantages. In this essay, using as a starting point the syndemic theory that translates the cumulative and intertwined factors between different epidemics, we argue that the SARS-CoV-2 is a one health issue of a syndemic nature and that the failure to acknowledge this contributes to weakened policy-making processes and public health responses and ineffective health policies and programs.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact globally, interacting with existing diseases and social determinants to affect health outcomes and exacerbate social disadvantages. Understanding it as a syndemic issue is crucial for effective policy-making and public health responses.