Noncommunicable Diseases (2024)

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  • Noncommunicable Diseases (2)

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Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the number one cause of death and disability in the world.

The term NCDs refers to a group of conditions that are not mainly caused by an acute infection, result in long-term health consequences and often create a need for long-term treatment and care. These conditions include cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic lung illnesses.

Many NCDs can be prevented by reducing common risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, physical inactivity and eating unhealthy diets. Many other important conditions are also considered NCDs, including injuries and mental health disorders.

Key facts

  • Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people each year worldwide, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. In the Region of the Americas, 5.5 million deaths are by NCDs.
  • Each year, 15 million people -2.2 million in the Region of the Americas - die from a NCD between the ages of 30 and 69 years; over 85% of these "premature" deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or 17.9 million people annually, followed by cancers (9.0 million), respiratory diseases (3.9million), and diabetes (1.6 million), globally.
  • These 4 groups of diseases account for over 80% of all premature NCD deaths.
  • Tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets all increase the risk of dying from a NCD.
  • Detection, screening and treatment of NCDs, as well as palliative care, are key components of the response to NCDs.

Fact sheet

Modifiable behavioral risk factors

Modifiable behaviors, such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and the harmful use of alcohol, all increase the risk of NCDs.

  • Tobacco accounts for over 7.2 million deaths every year (including from the effects of exposure to second-hand smoke) and is projected to increase markedly over the coming years.(1)
  • 4.1 million annual deaths have been attributed to excess salt/sodium intake.(1)
  • More than half of the 3.3 million annual deaths attributable to alcohol use are from NCDs, including cancer.(2)
  • 1.6 million deaths annually can be attributed to insufficient physical activity.(1)

Metabolic risk factors

Metabolic risk factors contribute to four key metabolic changes that increase the risk of NCDs:

  • raised blood pressure
  • overweight/obesity
  • hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) and
  • hyperlipidemia (high levels of fat in the blood).

In terms of attributable deaths, the leading metabolic risk factor globally is elevated blood pressure (to which 19% of global deaths are attributed),followed by overweight and obesity, and raised blood glucose.

PAHO Response

The Pan American Health Organization promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities directed to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), related risk factors, disabilities, and mental, neurological and substance abuse disorders that are sound and appropriate for the culture and society.

PAHO raises political and public awareness and understanding of the burden of the most common NCDs, related risk factors, mental or neurological conditions, and leads multi-sector and multi-stakeholder strategic and collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening Member States' capacity to promote and protect health through public policies, programs, and services. This will reduce risks and disease burden in order to improve the physical, mental, and social well being of the population.

NCDs in the Region of the Americas: celebrating PAHO’s 120 years

SURVEILLANCE OF NCDs

​​​​​​Noncommunicable Diseases (3)

Improving CVD Clinical Management through HEARTS Implementation in the Context of COVID-19 and NCD Surveillance in the Caribbean

A workshop to improvecardiovascular risk management in the context of COVID-19 was conducted during two and a half days (from 16 to 18 May), followed by a one and a half workshop on noncommunicable diseases surveillance (18-19 May).

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Noncommunicable Diseases (4)

RaMPS: Rapid Mobile Phone Survey

A tool to complement the NCD surveillance toolbox measuring NCDs policies and interventions at the population level.

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SIDS High-level technical meeting on NCDs and mental health

Barbados, 17-18 January, 2023

The World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization and the Government of Barbados are co-hosting a High-level technical meeting on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) andmental health in recognition of the high burden of NCDs and the impact of climate and COVID-19 on health and economies in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The meeting will serve as a follow up to the virtual WHO SIDS Summit for Health held in July 2021 and will be a precursor to the SIDS ministerial conference on NCDs and mental health due to be held in June2023.

The SIDS High-level technical meeting will be webcast for virtual participants and will look to engage heads of state and government, ministers of health from the WHO SIDS Member States, as well as technical experts from key regional and subregional bodies; partner governments and agencies; civil society; youth; public–private partnerships and academia.

More information

"Best buys" for the prevention and control of NCDs

The prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) requires interventions aimed at the 4 main diseases and their risk factors. Appendix 3 of the 2013-2020 Global Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs proposes a series of cost-effective, evidence-informed public health interventions aimed at guiding decision-making.

RESOURCES

Tackling NCDs: 'best buys' and other recommended interventions

Noncommunicable Diseases (5)

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Flyer: "Best buys" for NCDs

Noncommunicable Diseases (6)

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Social media cards

Noncommunicable Diseases (7)

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Video

Noncommunicable Diseases and their Risk Factors

CAMPAIGNS

International Childhood Cancer Day 2024 International Childhood Cancer Day is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors, and their families.
Live better, drink less Many health and social issues can be mitigated by reducing alcohol consumption. Need resources on how to live better and drink less? Get them here.
World Mental Health Day Everyone should have the right to live a life with dignity, equity, equality, and respect, and this includes people with mental health conditions.

Latest news

COVID-19 eliminated a decade of progress in global level of life expectancy

PAHO/WHO and the Ministry of Health Join Forces: Second STEPS Survey Launched in Trinidad and Tobago to Combat Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases

PAHO congratulates Anvisa's decision that maintains a ban on electronic smoking devices in Brazil

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Stories

Youth Chefs Win World Health Day Cook-Off Competition

Mexico: the long road to tobacco control

Reaching 100,000 hearts on two islands

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Documents

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Diabetes Clinical Pathway - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Diabetes Clinical Pathway - PERU

Diabetes Clinical Pathway - ARGENTINA

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Communication Materials

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Rapid Mobile Phone Survey on Noncommunicable diseases and COVID-19: Suriname, 2023

Rapid Mobile Phone Survey on Noncommunicable diseases and COVID-19: Saint Lucia, 2022

PAHO/WHO STEP wise approach to noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factor surveillance (STEPS)

Clinical pathway - REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA

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Mandates and Strategies

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Annual Report 2021. Trinidad and Tobago: Responding to COVID-19 and Preparing for the Future

Annual Report 2020. Universal Health and the Pandemic. Resilient Health Systems. Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba

Joint statement on noncommunicable diseases and COVID-19

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Events

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Noncommunicable Diseases (29)

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support: Emergency Preparedness and Response

17 Jul 2024

Noncommunicable Diseases (30)

Human Rights and Legislative Transformation in Mental Health

19 Jun 2024

Noncommunicable Diseases (31)

Bridging Policy and Research for Suicide Prevention in the Americas: A Joint PAHO/NIMH Symposium on Suicide Prevention

13 Jun 2024

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More information

  • NCDS AND COVID-19
Noncommunicable Diseases (2024)

FAQs

What is a non communicable disease answer? ›

Non-communicable diseases are diseases that are not spread through infection or through other people, but are typically caused by unhealthy behaviours. They are the leading cause of death worldwide and present a huge threat to health and development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

What are 5 ways to prevent non-communicable diseases? ›

Reduce the major modifiable risk factors, such as tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity. Develop and implement effective legal frameworks. Orient health systems through people-centred health care and universal health coverage. Promote high-quality research and development.

What are 3 main causes of a noncommunicable disease? ›

Tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and air pollution all increase the risk of dying from an NCD. Detection, screening and treatment of NCDs, as well as palliative care, are key components of the response to NCDs.

What are the 15 non-communicable diseases? ›

Stroke, heart attack, peripheral artery diseases (PAD), coronary artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, congenital heart disease, etc. Asthma, pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), occupational lung disease, etc. Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes.

What are the most common noncommunicable diseases? ›

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease, are collectively responsible for 74% of all deaths worldwide.

What is a communicable disease? ›

Communicable diseases are illnesses that spread from one person to another or from an animal to a person, or from a surface or a food.

What are 4 common risk factors for noncommunicable diseases? ›

Most noncommunicable diseases are the result of four particular behaviours (tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and the harmful use of alcohol) that lead to four key metabolic/physiological changes (raised blood pressure, overweight/obesity, raised blood glucose and raised cholesterol).

What are the four 4 major non-communicable diseases? ›

These conditions include cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic lung illnesses. Many NCDs can be prevented by reducing common risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, physical inactivity and eating unhealthy diets.

How are non-communicable diseases treated? ›

Keep in mind that there are no treatment options that lead to curing a non-communicable disease from your body. Instead, your doctor may prescribe medications and recommend lifestyle changes to improve your symptoms. Preventing and managing non-communicable diseases.

What are the big 4 non-communicable diseases? ›

Four major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory disease — account for just over 70 per cent of all preventable deaths occurring in the world, around 41 million people1.

What are the 4 most common communicable diseases? ›

Common cold. The flu (influenza). COVID-19. Stomach flu (gastroenteritis).

Which method helps prevent communicable diseases? ›

Wash your hands often with soap and water. Home is where you stay when you are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth –especially when you are sick. Cover your coughs and sneezes so you do not spread germs to others.

What are 5 examples of communicable diseases? ›

Information for Specific Communicable Diseases
  • Chickenpox / Shingles.
  • COVID-19.
  • Ebola.
  • Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE)
  • Hepatitis B.
  • Hepatitis C.
  • HIV / AIDS.
  • HIV / STDs / Hepatitis.

What is communicable non-communicable? ›

The past century has seen a profound decrease in mortality rates across the world, accompanied by a marked shift from communicable diseases (caused by infectious microbes) to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and respiratory diseases.

What are the non-communicable diseases in the United States? ›

Four main NCDs are responsible for the greatest burden: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases.

Which of the following is an example of a noncommunicable infectious disease? ›

Food poisoning is an example of a noncommunicable infectious disease.

References

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