PFCM

Person as Variables
Dr. Michael Dizon
July 17, 2018

PERSON VARIABLES  Male generally have higher all-cause age specific

mortality rates than female
• Age
MALE FEMALE
• Sex
• Race Prostate CA Cervical CA
• Socioeconomic Status Testicular CA Endometrial CA
• Marital Status Penile CA Ovarian CA
• Nativity (Place of Origin) Cardiovascular diseases Breast CA
• Migration Tetanus Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Religion Rabies SLE
Fatty Liver
AGE
 Most important factor when describing the occurrence of
any disease or illness. RACE
◌ age is something you cannot prevent  Countries are becoming more diverse now more than ever
◌ by knowing the age, you would already know the before in history
diseases specific for a certain age group and you can ◌ Seen as an ambiguous characteristic that tends to
already have a differential overlap with nativity (place of origin) and religion
 Age specific disease rates usually show greater variation ◌ Some epidemiologists due foreign-born or native- born
than rates defined by almost any other personal attribute. ◌ Scientists have proposed that race is a social and cultural
(measles, for example, are often seen in unvaccinated construct rather than a biological construct
children) ◌ It is not used much in determining the cause or the
 Age- specific rates are used when comparing disease burden patterns of disease because sometimes people don’t
among populations. (because age is the only factor that will know their own race/ethnicities
be constant despite of different cultures and populations) OFW phenomenon – since OFW came from different countries,
 Causes of morbidity and mortality differ according to the they are also bringing diseases here from all over the world
stage of life (as age increases, overall mortality increases)
◌ Childhood: among unvaccinated persons, infectious Some examples of race with associated inclination to disease:
diseases such as mumps and chicken pox are common Asians – gastric cancer (due to being fond of eating raw foods)
◌ Teenagers: violence, substance abuse, unintentional Caucasians – skin cancer (due to lack of melanin in their skin)
injuries - eg. Australians
◌ Younger adults: unintentional injury is the leading cause Pacific Islanders
of death Europeans
◌ Older adults: chronic diseases such as cardiovascular
diseases and cancers SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
 Descriptive term for a person’s position in society
Young: congenital diseases, cardiovascular diseases due to  Formulated as a composite measure of 3 interrelated
congenital factors dimensions:
Middle aged: accidents, sexually transmitted infections (STI), ◌ Person’s income level
pregnancy related illnesses, Drug use ◌ Educational level
Older: Degenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s), cardiovascular ◌ Type of occupation
disease due to risk factors  SES is inversely associated with levels or morbidity and
Bimodal: pneumonia, tuberculosis mortality
 Low SES have morbidity and mortality from numerous
SEX causes (eg. Marasmus, kwashiorkor, nutrient deficiency)
 Numerous epidemiologic studies have shown sex  Many diseases left unrecorded due to their
differences in a wide scope of health phenomenon incapability to acquire medical assistance
including mortality and morbidity
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 High SES are associated with diseases like obesity and o Common among those religions allowed to
cardiovascular diseases related to stress factors eat pork or beef
 Neonatal herpes simplex
MARITAL STATUS o Those with Jewish origin which is related to
 The principle in this factor is that in a partner the ritual of circumcision
relationship, medical check-up will be more o It may be prevented with a better medical
encouraged practice, for instance a Jewish was
circumcised in a hospital so the risk for having
NATIVITY (Place of Origin) the infection is not anymore related to
 An event occurred where you live before may manifest religion (Doc Mike, 2018)
later even you are already living in a different place (a
disease will manifest only when you are already in
another place and already been infected before you
got to the new place)
 Eg. A Japanese who migrated to the U.S. will manifest
the same signs and symptoms as those who are also
exposed to the nuclear bombing but are currently
living in Japan
 Other examples:
o Hypothyroidism – if you once lived in a high
place far from seafood sources
o Malaria – endemic in Palawan
o IDA
o Dengue
o Schistosoma
o Yellow fever
o Black fever

NOTE: Most of the content of this transcript came from

MIGRATION
the discussion. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
 If you leave the Philippines and travelled to a different
country, is there a possibility that you will get the
References: Dr. Dizon’s PPT
illnesses in that country? YES. Both the acute and
Recording
chronic diseases.
 Herd immunity will protect you from diseases that may
be present in other country that you weren’t prepared
for.

RELIGION
 STI/STD – religion where polygamous marriage is
allowed (eg. Muslims)
o this is less likely since even though they are
allowed to have many wives it does not
necessarily mean that they are engaged in
sexual contact with other people other than
their wives (Doc Mike, 2018)
 Atherosclerosis – religion with a vegetarian lifestyle
have a negative risk for acquiring this
 Metabolic alkalosis – vegetarians
 Tape worm
o Taenia solium (Pork) and Taenia saginata
(Beef)

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