Global Trends in Non-Communicable Disease Mortality

A study published in The Lancet has shown that the risk of death from chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes has decreased in four out of five countries between 2010 and 2019. This article focuses on analyzing the findings and global trends related to non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality and what this means for the future of public health.

Non-Communicable Diseases: The Silent Killer

Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. They include a range of chronic diseases that are not transmitted between people, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. The United Nations has set a goal to reduce deaths from these diseases by one-third by 2030.

This recent study is the first of its kind to examine changes in mortality rates due to non-communicable diseases across countries. It found that the likelihood of dying from a non-communicable disease before the age of 80 decreased in 152 countries for women and in 147 countries for men between 2010 and 2019.

Countries with the Most and Least Improvement

All high-income countries recorded a decline in mortality rates from non-communicable diseases between 2010 and 2019, with Denmark showing the largest decrease for both genders, while the United States recorded the smallest decrease. Countries like China, Egypt, Nigeria, Russia, and Brazil saw reductions in mortality, whereas India and Papua New Guinea experienced an increase in NCD deaths during the same period.

The improvements in mortality rates are attributed to the integration of better treatments and preventive measures within healthcare systems, widespread adoption of medications such as statins and antihypertensives to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and the development of vaccines for hepatitis and cervical cancer.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite the notable progress, there has been a slowdown in the decline of mortality rates in the last decade compared to the previous one. According to researcher Majid Ezzati from Imperial College London, this may be due to a lack of funding, poor targeting of vulnerable groups, and unclear public health priorities.

In many countries, proven interventions to reduce chronic disease deaths, such as hypertension treatment and cancer screening, have been scaled back or halted, despite being low-cost and highly effective.

Impacts on Health Policies

Veronica Lee Neves, a public policy expert, noted that the report found mortality rate improvements were mainly driven by better treatments and preventive measures, but also emphasized the need to accelerate funding and implement programs addressing neuropsychiatric diseases, which have increased in many countries.

It is also important to consider how to live well with chronic diseases, as many individuals live with a non-communicable disease, often with more than one chronic condition, for many years.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive view of global trends in mortality rates due to non-communicable diseases, highlighting the improvements made and the challenges that remain. Despite the progress, there is an urgent need to enhance global and local efforts to improve health policies and activate preventive and therapeutic programs. As 2030 approaches, combating non-communicable diseases must remain a global priority to support sustainable development goals and ensure better health for communities worldwide.