Hronic and Non-Communicable Diseases - Essay Example

In 2005, the WHO estimated that among 58 million deaths from all causes, approximately 60% of deaths (35 million) were associated with chronic disease. This figure represents one-third of the global burden of disease and is twice the number of deaths from all infectious diseases, maternal and perinatal conditions, and nutritional deficiencies combined. This situation is very serious – chronic disease affects not only public health but society and the economy as well. Chronic disease is currently the most significant cause of death worldwide, and there is no indication that the rapid increase in the incidence of chronic disease is likely to slow down in the near future. Every year, approximately 17 million people die prematurely due to chronic disease.

Furthermore, WHO has projected that death due to non-communicable diseases will increase from 61% in 2005 to 68% by 2030, while death due to communicable, perinatal, and nutritional causes is likely to decrease from 30% in 2005 to 22% by 2030.

In 2005, cardiovascular disease accounted for approximately 30% (17.5 million) of deaths due to non-communicable diseases. Cancer accounted for 7.6 million and diabetes for 1.2 million deaths in the same year. Analysis of Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), the most widely used summary measure of the burden of disease, shows that nearly half of the global burden of disease is caused by noncommunicable diseases, compared with 13% by injuries and 39% by communicable diseases, maternal and perinatal, and nutritional deficiencies combined.

Contrary to common belief, chronic disease is most serious in low-income and medium-income countries. The economic loss to these countries is enormous. WHO estimates that in 2005, 80% of deaths due to chronic disease occurred in low and middle countries. Nine nations were examined in detail: Brazil, Canada, China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the Tanzanian Union Republic.

Their results indicate that the previously common belief that low and middle-income countries should focus on controlling infectious diseases, while high-income countries should focus on chronic, noncommunicable diseases, is a misleading one. In countries with low and moderate economic development, the causes of death by chronic disease are mainly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer.  However, the results of the WHO studies also suggest that low and middle-income countries are now facing a more serious dilemma, in that these countries are experiencing increased incidences of both chronic noncommunicable and infectious diseases simultaneously, particularly in urban areas.

Chronic disease was once limited to the elderly. However WHO studies have shown that people in low and middle-income countries begin suffering from chronic diseases with preventable complications sooner, and die earlier, than those in high-income countries. According to WHO, at least half of the deaths due to chronic disease occur in people under 70 years of age, and around 25% in people under 60. 

In China, chronic disease has begun to appear in significant proportions in young people as well as the elderly – 85% of cases of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer now affect those aged 14-64. The Chinese minister of disease control and prevention, Mr. Qi Xiao Qiu, has said that at present, the burden of disease in China is a non-communicable disease. Recent national reports suggest there are at least 160 million people in China suffering from cardiovascular diseases, and 20 million people are identified as diabetic.

The rapidly increasing incidence of chronic disease is not only a public health issue; it also causes serious economic loss. It has been estimated that China, India, and Russia will lose one billion US dollars in national income over the next 10 years due to chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. China will accumulate a loss of around 558 billion US dollars from 2005 to 2015, India a loss of 236 billion, and Russia a loss of 303 billion. The WHO report also pointed out that booming economic development in these countries has contributed to the increase in chronic illness.