New Delhi (NVI): Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally, according to World Health Organization (WHO).
Every year, at least 15 million people die from a noncommunicable disease between the ages of 30 and 69 years. over 85% of these “premature” deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, as per a WHO report.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behaviours factors.
The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
Children, adults and the elderly are all vulnerable to the risk factors contributing to NCDs, whether from unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, exposure to tobacco, smoke or the harmful use of alcohol.
NCDs are driven by forces that include rapid unplanned urbanization, globalization of unhealthy lifestyles and population ageing. Unhealthy diets and a lack of physical activity may show up in people as raised blood pressure, increased blood glucose, elevated blood lipids and obesity.
These are called metabolic risk factors that can lead to cardiovascular disease, the leading NCD in terms of premature deaths.
Poverty is closely linked with NCDs. The rapid rise in NCDs is predicted to impede poverty reduction initiatives in low-income countries, particularly by increasing household costs associated with health care.
NCDs pose as a threat towards the progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a target of reducing premature deaths from NCDs by one-third by 2030.
An important way to control NCDs is to focus on reducing the risk factors associated with these diseases. Monitoring progress and trends of NCDs and their risk is important for guiding policy and priorities.
