Non-communicable disease
A non-communicable disease, or NCD, or non-infectious disease is a medical condition or disease which is non-infectious. NCDs are diseases of long duration and generally slow progression. They include heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, cataracts, and more. While often referred to as "chronic diseases", NCDs are distinguished by their non-infectious cause. In contrast, some chronic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, while also lasting medical conditions, are caused by transmissible infections. They are similar in that they also require chronic care management.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports NCDs to be by far the leading cause of mortality in the world, representing 60% of all deaths. Out of the 35 million people who died from NCDs in 2005, half were under age 70 and half were women.[1]
According to the General Director of WHO Dr. Margaret Chan in 2008 non-communicable diseases were the reason for more than 36 million deaths, representing 63% of the total death number - 57 million. 80% of these deaths, as reported, were in the low-and middle-income countries.[2]
Risk factors
Risk factors such as a person's background, lifestyle and environment are known to increase the likelihood of certain non-communicable diseases. They include age, sex, genetics, exposure to air pollution, and behaviours such as smoking, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity which can lead to hypertension and obesity, in turn leading to increased risk of many NCDs.[3]
The WHO's World Health Report 2002 identified five important risk factors for non-communicable disease in the top ten leading risks to health. These are raised blood pressure, raised cholesterol, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and overweight.[4]
Other factors associated with higher risk of NCDs include a person's economic and social conditions, also known as the "social determinants of health".
NCDs and global health
Historically, many NCDs were associated with economic development and so-called "diseases of the rich".[5] However, today an estimated 80% of the four main types of NCDs - cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes - occur in low- and middle-income countries.[6]
In September 2011, the United Nations is hosting its first General Assembly Special Summit on the issue of non-communicable diseases.[7] Noting that NCDs are the cause of some 35 million deaths each year, the international community is being increasingly called to take important measures for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, and mitigate their impacts on the world population especially on women, who are usually the primary caregivers.
See also
- Chronic disease
- The INCTR Challenge Fund project of the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research
- Non-infectious disease
References
- ^ World Health Organization: Chronic diseases - http://www.who.int/topics/chronic_diseases/en/, accessed 21 March 2011.
- ^ Chief Cause Of Death Throughout the World
- ^ Public Health Agency of Canada: Chronic Disease Risk Factors - http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cd-mc/risk_factors-facteurs_risque-eng.php, accessed 21 March 2011.
- ^ World Health Organization: The world health report 2002 - Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life. Geneva, 2002 - http://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/, accessed 21 March 2011.
- ^ Boutayeb A, Boutayeb S. The burden of non communicable diseases in developing countries. Int J Equity Health, 2005; 4:2 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC546417/
- ^ World Health Organization. 2008-2013 Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. Geneva, 2008 - http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2009/9789241597418_eng.pdf
- ^ United Nations: Press Conference on General Assembly Decision to Convene Summit in September 2011 on Non-Communicable Diseases. New York, 13 May 2010 - http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs//2010/100513_Diseases.doc.htm, accessed 21 March 2011.