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Facts about Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)

• The rapid rise of NCDs is threatening economic and social development as well as the lives and health of millions of people. It represents a major health challenge to global development in the coming century.

• In 2001 alone, NCDs contributed to almost 60% (33.1 million) of deaths in the world and 45.9% of the global burden of disease. Based on current trends, these diseases are expected to account for 73% of deaths and 60% of the disease burden in the year 2020.

• Low- and middle-income countries suffer the greatest impact of NCDs. The rapid increase in these diseases disproportionately affects poor and disadvantaged populations and contributes to widening health gaps between and within countries. For example, in 1998, 77% of the total number of NCD deaths occurred in developing countries, and 85% of the NCD burden was borne by low- and middle-income countries.

• Noncommunicable diseases (NCD) represent a significant and growing burden on public health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries that have to contend with the unfinished agenda of communicable diseases.

• In these countries, NCDs are rapidly moving to lower socioeconomic groups, contributing to poverty and posing great burden to health services.

• Research over the past 30 years has demonstrated that the bulk of NCD is preventable through an integrated approach employing a full array of health promotion and disease prevention strategies within national health policy.

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- About NCDs
- Addressing Commom Risk Factors
- Lessons Learned