Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill 40 million people each year, says the World Health Organization (WHO). Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, tend to be long-lasting and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors.
The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and strokes), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes, the WHO said.
Cardiovascular diseases account for the majority of NCD deaths, or 17.7 million people a year, followed by cancers (8.8 million), respiratory diseases (3.9 million) and diabetes (1.6 million). These four disease groups account for more than 80% of all premature deaths
These conditions are often associated with older age groups, but evidence shows that 15 million of all deaths attributed to NCDs occur between the ages of 30 and 69 years. Children, adults, and the elderly are all vulnerable to the risk factors that contribute to NCDs, whether from unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, exposure to tobacco smoke, or harmful use of alcohol.
These are called metabolic risk factors that can lead to cardiovascular disease, the leading NCD in terms of premature deaths.
An important way to control noncommunicable diseases is to focus on reducing the risk factors associated with these diseases, WHO said. There are low-cost solutions for governments and other stakeholders to reduce common modifiable risk factors. Monitoring the progress and trends of NCDs and their risk is important in guiding policies and priorities.
In order to reduce the impact of NCDs on individuals and on society, a holistic approach is required that obliges all sectors, including health, finance, transport, education, agriculture, planning and others to collaborate To reduce the risks associated with NCDs and promote interventions to prevent and control them.
Management of NCDs includes detecting, screening and treating these diseases, and providing access to palliative care for people in need. High impact essential NCD interventions can be delivered through a primary health care approach to strengthen early detection and timely treatment.
Evidence shows such interventions are excellent economic investments because, if provided early to patients, they can reduce the need for more expensive treatment, the WHO said.
