Social Disparities in Benign Lung Diseases

Abstract

The many socioeconomic disparities in the myriad of diagnoses that make up benign lung diseases are unfortunately a global issue that was most recently highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. In this chapter, we will be reviewing the socioeconomic disparities in benign lung disease from both a United States perspective as well as a global perspective. We will cover the spectrum of infectious, obstructive, and restrictive lung disease and review the evidence on how social disparities affect these populations and their access to medical care.

Keywords: Asthma; COPD; COVID-19; Cystic fibrosis; Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Sarcoidosis; Social disparities in benign lung diseases; Tuberculosis.