NCDs

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are not transmissible from person to person. They are chronic in nature and have a slow progression. The 4 main types of non-communicable diseases are cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke), diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases (COPD and asthma) and cancer. Low and middle income countries bear nearly three quarters of NCD deaths (28 million) of the whole world, which is very disproportionate.

Key Facts

1. Accounting for 63% of all annual deaths, NCDs are by far the leading cause of death in the world

2. Nearly 38 million people die each year due to NCDs

3. Almost three quarters of NCD deaths (28 million approx) happen in low and middle income countries.

4. 82% of these premature deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

5. 17.5 million people die annually due to cardiovascular diseases, which is by far the most, followed by cancers (8.2 million), followed by respiratory diseases (4 million), and diabetes (1.5 million).

6. 82% of all deaths caused by NCDs occur due to these 4 groups of diseases

7. 16 million deaths caused by NCDs happen by the age of 70

8. Use of tobacco, harmful consumption of alcohol, unhealthy food habits, physical inactivity- all increase the death risks from an NCD

9. Most NCDs are preventable

Why NCDs?

Premature deaths due to non-communicable diseases are way very common in low and middle income countries; which means, in their most productive years, people are facing deaths and disabilities. So, in short, non communicable diseases don’t just affect health, they contribute a great deal to poverty and financial inequality worldwide. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, people with NCDs remain at greater risk and the inequalities only keep growing.

NCDs account for 71 percent of all global deaths

The issue of non-communicable diseases represents one of the greatest threats to public health and worldwide development. And the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes diminishing NCD mortality as a top priority. 41 million people die each year due to non communicable diseases, which is equivalent to 71 percent of all global deaths. 17.5 million people die annually due to cardiovascular diseases,, which is by far the most, followed by cancers (8.2 million), followed by respiratory diseases (4 million), and diabetes (1.5 million).

NCDs restrain people in the prime of their lives

Risk factors for NCDs include unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use or harmful use of alcohol, and research from the World Health Organization shows that 15 million of all deaths accounted for by non-communicable diseases are "premature" - which means they occur among people between the ages of 30 and 69. The WEF (World Economic Forum) says that the economic impact of the leading NCDs— cancer, heart disease, diabetes and respiratory disease— could reach approximately 47 trillion USD over the next 20 years.

Low and middle income countries bear the burden

Low- and middle-income countries bear the most acute burdens of NCDs. Millions of people in those countries live affected by or with the risk of NCDs due to lack of access to consistent and quality medical care and medicine; and they’re twice as likely to prematurely die from conditions which are preventable and treatable.