Inequality in disease

Inequality in disease refers to the unequal distribution or burden of disease among a population. This differs from the related topic of health disparities, which requires an inequality in disease that is linked to, at least in part, systemic differences faced by socially and economically disadvantaged groups. For example, an increased prevalence of soft tissue injuries among professional athletes in comparison to the rest of the population would be considered inequality in disease and not a health disparity, as this difference could not be attributed to social or economic disadvantages. Many variations in health outcomes in the United States can be seen across several social characteristics, such as gender, race, socioeconomic status, the environment, and educational attainment as well as in the intersections between these identities.