Chronic diseases
Currently, 58 million deaths each year from chronic diseases.
More than 80% occur in low or middle income countries.
By 2030, chronic diseases will be responsible for almost 70% of all deaths.
Sources: Preventing chronic diseases – a vital investment, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland, 2005; World health statistics 2007. 3rd ed. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2007.
Cardiovascular diseases:
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide.
The two most common types of cardiovascular disease are coronary heart disease (leading to heart attack) and cerebrovascular disease (leading to stroke).
Low and middle-income countries suffer more than 80% of the global burden of cardiovascular disease. By 2020, deaths from cardiovascular diseases will rise to four million per year in China and almost five million in India.
80% of premature heart disease, stroke and diabetes can be prevented.
Three key preventable causes of these diseases are smoking, high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure. Stopping smoking, reducing cholesterol and reducing blood pressure have all been shown to reduce disease risks.
Sources: Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment: WHO global report, Geneva, Switzerland, 2005; Global health risks: mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks. WHO, Geneva, Switzerland, 2009. The global burden of disease: 2004 update. WHO, Geneva, Switzerland, 2008. Surveillance of mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) related morbidity in Industrial settings.WHO Country Office for India, Geneva, Switzerland.
Diabetes:
Diabetes affects around 250 million people worldwide. There are about 7 million new cases every year.
Almost 80% of deaths associated with diabetes occur in low and middle-income countries. There are 40 million people with diabetes in India – this number will rise to almost 70 million by 2025.
Just under half of the deaths occur in people below the age of 70 years and just over half occur in women.
People with diabetes are at heightened risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in high-income countries and accounts for more than a third of all new cases.
Lowering blood cholesterol and lowering blood pressure have each been shown to reduce deaths among people with diabetes. Lowering blood glucose has been shown to help prevent kidney disease.
Sources: International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2006. Diabetes Atlas, 3rd Edition; International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Complications.
Available at: http://www.eatlas.idf.org/Complications/ Accessed April 2007; WHO Diabetes Fact sheet N°312, WHO. Geneva, Switzerland, November 2009; International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2006. Diabetes Atlas, 3rd Edition. Patel A, ADVANCE Collaborative Group; MacMahon S, Chalmers J, Neal B, Woodward M, Billot L, Harrap S, Poulter N, Marre M, Cooper M, Glasziou P, Grobbee D, Hamet P, Heller S, Liu L, Mancia G, Mogensen C, Pan C, Rodgers A, Williams B. Effects of a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide on macrovascular and microvascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (the ADVANCE trial): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2007;370:829-40; ADVANCE Collaborative Group, Patel A, MacMahon S, Chalmers J, Neal B, Billot L, Woodward M, Marre M, Cooper M, Glasziou P, Grobbee D, Hamet P, Harrap S, Heller S, Liu L, Mancia G, Mogensen C, Pan C, Poulter N, Rodgers A, Williams B, Bompoint S, de Galan B, Joshi R, Travert F. Intensive blood glucose control on vascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;358:2560-72.
