The lives of far too many people in the world are being blighted and cut short by chronic diseases.
Chronic diseases are long-lasting conditions that can be controlled but not cured.
Chronic diseases persist for a long time, generally cannot be prevented
The lives of far too many people in the world are being blighted and cut short by chronic diseases.
Chronic diseases are long-lasting conditions that can be controlled but not cured.
Chronic diseases persist for a long time, generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, nor do they just disappear. They tend to become more common with age.
Major cause of death
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, are by far the leading cause of mortality in the world. Globally in 2005, of approximately 58 million deaths, 35 million were a result of chronic diseases, representing 60% of all deaths. They were then the major cause of death among adults in almost all countries and the toll was projected to increase by a further 17% within the next 10 years… which is NOW.
Out of the 35 million people who died from chronic disease in 2005, half were under 70 years of age and half were women.
According to the WHO, this invisible epidemic is an under-appreciated cause of poverty and hinders the economic development of many countries. Contrary to common perception, 80% of chronic disease deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.
Data from the WHO shows that chronic disease is also the major cause of premature death around the world even in places where infectious diseases are rampant.
Overweight and obese children have been increasing worldwide and the incidence of type 2 diabetes is growing enormously.
This is a very serious situation, both for public health and for the societies and economies affected. Until recently the impact and profile of chronic disease has generally been insufficiently appreciated.
Need for action
The actual scale and severity of the problem and the urgent need for action is very clear and the means of preventing and 