Non-Communicable Diseases Explained

WHO

• 12 per cent of the nearly 56 million deaths worldwide in 2000
• Rates could further increase by 50% to 15 million new cases in the year 2020
• Linked to infections, nutrition & environmental pollutants

• Chronic respiratory diseases cause approximately 7% of all deaths worldwide
• Most of the 250K deaths from asthma each year can be attributed to lack of proper treatment & go unrecorded in LMIC
• Tobacco use remains legal, although it kills more than 5M people each year, including 1.3M who die of lung cancer, & 600,000 who die from second hand smoke
• Deadly synergies exist between diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, influenza and asthma, COPD and lung cancer

Cancers

Lung Diseases

Also includes mental health (huge DALY), accidents & dental illness.

Questions?

NCDs are a group of groups - making advocacy & common targets difficult

WHO

@sandrodemaio

demaio@sund.ku.dk

• CVDs are the number one cause of death globally
• 17.3 million people died from CVDs in 2008, representing 30% of all global deaths
• 23M by 2030
• LMIC are disproportionally affected: over 80% of CVD deaths
• Poverty is a risk factor identified by WHF

Heart Disease

A threat...

Health.

Economic.

Social.

Political.

Cultural.

Geopolitical.

Healthier cities.

Stronger economies.

More sustainable living.

Synergies with other disease.

An Opportunity

WDF

NCDs are a group of diseases

• 285 million people, corresponding to 6.4% of the world's adult population in 2010
• Prevalence 10.2% in the Western Pacific
• 70% of the current cases of diabetes occur in low- and middle income countries- 50.8 million in India and 43.2 million in China
• In Mozambique, diabetes care for one person requires 75% of the per capita income; in Mali it amounts to 61%

NCDs are not diseases of the lazy.

Diabetes

These deaths can be averted today.

80% of heart disease and diabetes, and a third of cancers are currently preventable! Representing millions of needless deaths annually.

NCDs are deeply rooted in social determinants of health, such as employment and educational opportunities, urban planning and investment, and social equity.

What are NCDs?

NCDs do not just affect men.

NCDs now pose the single biggest threat to women’s health & development, causing 65 % of all female deaths.

The intergenerational burden of chronic disease & its treatment are often greatest on women.

6 Facts About NCDs

More than 50% of global NCDs occur in people younger than 70, with diabetes affecting more children every day.

These diseases are caused by similar determinants and therefore share mitigation and prevention opportunities.

NCDs are not a disease only of the aged.

NCDs are a poverty cycle catalyst.

NCDs are the leading cause of global deaths - 36M in 2008 alone.

NCDs are not diseases of the rich.

More people die of NCDs than any other cause, accounting for more than 60% of global mortality - today.

85% of NCDs occur in the worlds POOREST populations. NCDs cause poverty, and entrench people in poverty.

Tackling NCDs: a different approach is needed.

The Lancet. Beaglehole et al. 2012.

What can be done?

Support moves to reduce Tobacco and Harmful Alcohol Use

NCDs Explained

Responding to NCDs is a political issue rather than a technical one

Reduction of tobacco consumption. It remains the most important avoidable cancer risk. In the 20th century, approximately 100 million people died world-wide from tobacco-associated diseases

Promote education about foods, their origins and their contents

We have cost effective solutions and many know what must be done.

It is now translating this into political action through scientific evidence (which we largely have) and societal advocacy & support

The problem might be complicated, but the solutions are simple.

Dr Alessandro Demaio

Support progressive policies ensuring all communities have access to affordable, healthy food options

Be aware of Big Food, its power and its instrinsic conflicts of [fiscal] interests.

Demand urban environments which promote healthy lifestyles and physical activity

Postdoc, Harvard Medical School

Assistant Professor, University of Copenhagen

Co-Founder, NCDFREE

@sandrodemaio

Support & participate in screening programs for early detection and treatment of NCDs