Which statement best describes the relationship between disease determinants and risk factors?

• A. Risk factors are a subset of disease determinants
• B. Disease determinants are the same as risk factors
• C. All determinants are genetic
• D. Determinants are unrelated to risk factors

Answer: (A)

Determinants of disease are the broad range of factors that can influence whether a disease occurs, including biology, behavior, environment, social and economic conditions, and access to care. A risk factor is a specific attribute or exposure that studies have shown to increase the likelihood of developing the disease. Because risk factors help explain why people get a disease, they are part of the larger set of determinants. But determinants cover more than just those measurable associations; some determinants influence risk in ways that aren’t captured by a single risk factor, or are non-modifiable. So, risk factors are a subset of disease determinants. The other choices either treat determinants and risk factors as the same, claim determinants are only genetic, or say determinants are unrelated to risk factors, which doesn’t fit how these concepts relate in epidemiology.