Background: While much of international health focuses on communicable diseases, it is clear that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes, causes substantial morbidity and mortality.
Epidemiology:
NCDs kill 38 million people each year
Approximately 28 million of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Of the 38 million deaths, 16 million of these deaths occur in patients <70 years of age
82% of these “premature” deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries
Causes of NCD deaths
Cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks and strokes): 17.5 million
Cancers: 8.2 million
Chronic respiratory diseases (COPD and asthma): 4 million
Diabetes: 1.5 million
Bottom line: As in developed countries, risk factors for NCDs deaths include physical in activity, tobacco use, unhealthy diabetes, harmful use of alcohol.
