noncommunicable

Noncommunicable is an adjective used to describe diseases or conditions that are not transmitted from person to person. In medicine, it is often used in reference to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), a category of illnesses that are chronic in nature and tend to progress slowly. NCDs are not caused by infectious agents and are influenced by a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors.

Common include cardiovascular diseases (such as heart disease and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other persistent respiratory conditions), and diabetes. Broader discussions sometimes include mental health disorders, chronic kidney disease, and certain neurological conditions, though classifications vary by source.

Major risk factors include tobacco use, unhealthy diets high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol, as well as environmental factors like air pollution and aging populations. NCDs account for a large share of global mortality, with a disproportionate impact in low- and middle-income countries and in populations experiencing rapid demographic change.

Prevention and management emphasize both population-wide policies and individual-level actions: reducing tobacco use, improving air and water quality, promoting healthy eating and physical activity, limiting salt and processed foods, and ensuring early detection and effective treatment through primary care and chronic-disease management programs. Effective care aims to extend longevity, maintain quality of life, and reduce health-care costs.