36 Million Deaths in the World Due to Noncommunicable Diseases

36 Million Deaths in the World Due to Noncommunicable Diseases

"Noncommunicable diseases are the number one cause of death in the world” declared Dr. Douglas Bettcher, Director of the WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative, during the presentation of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Moratlity Report in 2008. The WHO is the UN’s world public health arm with a total of 193 member states.

According to the Report, these diseases cause about 36 million deaths per year, that is, 63 percent out of the total of deaths worldwide. It is estimated that 9 people out of the 36 million do not reach the age of 60.

Bettcher explained that the main factors favoring these types of diseases are: alcohol, lack of exercise, bad nutrition, and tobacco. These deaths are most of all linked to developed countries, nevertheless, the death number is growing even in under developed and developing countries.

According to the WHO Report, noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disorders, or diabetes, cause about 91 percent of world deaths. Furthermore, from these deaths 33 percent are due to cardiovascular diseases, 27 percent to cancer, 9 percent to respiratory pathologies, 5 percent to perinatal conditions, 3 percent to diabetes, 4 percent to accidents, and 19 percent to other noncommunicable diseases.www.who.int/topics/es

Director of the WHO Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion (CHP), Leanne Riley, explained that the root cause of noncommunicable diseases – which are the main cause of death in the world – comes from a change of life style. With regards to physical activity, the Report emphasizes that 52.1% of the world’s population does not engage in physical activity. This percentage is even higher among women than among men, estimates of 56.3% and 47.7% respectively. However, even more alarming are the figures relative to overweight, since 62 percent of patients were overweight, a percentage which increased to 67 percent among men and 56 percent among women.

Moreover, 69 percent of deaths in Latin America are due to noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, even though the percentage fluctuates with respects to economic and sanitary development of the respective countries. Thus, in Latin America, the percentage of noncommunicable diseases are linked to the level of development of each country. The ranking is as follows: Uruguay (87%), Cuba (84%), Chile (83%), Costa Rica (81%), Argentina (80%), Mexico (78%), Brazil (74%), Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Paraguay (69%), Republica Dominicana (68%), El Salvador (67%), Colombia and Venezuela (66%), Ecuador (65%), Peru (60%), Bolivia (57%), Guatemala (47%) and Haiti (41%).

By analysing the above data, it can be deduced that a healthy life, i.e. a life full of exercise, a balanced nutrition, and social familiar gatherings, is the perfect cure for noncommunicable diseases. (Translated by Gianna A. Sánchez Moretti).

Author and journalist Clemente Ferrer has led a distinguished career in Spain in the fields of publicity and press relations. He is currently President of the European Institute of Marketing.
clementeferrer3@gmail.com