NCDs

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are chronic conditions that are not transmitted from person to person. They tend to be long-lasting and progress slowly. The four major NCDs are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, though NCDs also include many others such as kidney disease and mental health conditions.

Risk factors for NCDs include tobacco use, unhealthy diets high in salt, sugar and fats, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol, along with environmental factors such as air pollution. Metabolic risk factors such as raised blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, and impaired glucose tolerance increase risk and interact with social determinants of health.

Global burden: NCDs cause an estimated 41 million deaths each year, about 71% of all deaths worldwide. Most deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and the burden is rising with aging populations and urbanization.

Impact and care: NCDs cause disability and long-term healthcare needs, reduce productivity, and impose economic costs on individuals and health systems. Managing NCDs requires sustained health system engagement and patient-centered care over a lifetime.

Prevention and management: Prevention and care rely on public health and health-system measures, including risk-factor reduction, early detection, and access to essential medicines, delivered through strong primary care. Policy actions include tobacco control, healthier food environments, physical activity promotion, reduction of air pollution, and vaccination against cancer-related infections where appropriate.

Global policy: Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 aims to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third by 2030, supported by the WHO Global Action Plan and national strategies to strengthen prevention, treatment, and palliative care.