From Inequality to Vulnerability: Chronic Stress and the Structural Determinants of Severe COVID-19 Outcomes

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the deep impact of socioeconomic inequalities on health outcomes. This article adopts a health-focused political economy perspective to analyze pandemic vulnerability. It argues that structural determinant, rather than individual factors (which exist and remain relevant of course), shape health disparities. Chronic stress is examined as a key mechanism linking socioeconomic inequality to health outcomes. Addressing future crises requires structural policy change and more equitable global cooperation.