Global burden and health trends of non-communicable diseases

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are the biggest global killers today. More than 600% of all deaths are caused by NCDs and nearly 800% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where the highest proportion of deaths under the age of 60 from NCDs occur. A large percentage of NCDs are preventable through the reduction of main behavioural (tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity) and metabolic risk factors (raised cholesterol, raised blood pressure, overweight and obesity).