Risk factors
Risk factors are those factors of the impact chain that directly affect
health (proximal factors). Risk factors are defined according to the
Health Promotion Glossary of WHO as “social, economic or biological
status, behaviours or environments which are associated with or
cause increased susceptibility to a specific disease, ill health, or injury”
(WHO, 1998). This definition specifies factors with negative effect on
health. However, one has to be aware that a factor could also be a protective
factor having a positive effect on health. The prevalence or
level of their contact with individuals is referred to as exposure. It is
imperative to make a distinction between the risk factors acting in the
impact chain and the risk factors modifying individual susceptibility.
The latter is to be considered when identifying susceptible subgroups
of the affected population