New Delhi, October 13 (IANS). Nearly one-third of all deaths and disabilities worldwide are caused by non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. This shocking study was published in ‘The Lancet’ magazine on Monday.
According to this study, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes are the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide.
The study is based on the latest analysis from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) and was also presented at the World Health Summit in Berlin. This shows that non-communicable diseases are now becoming the cause of death more than infectious diseases.
Ischemic heart disease (heart attack), stroke and diabetes have been identified as major causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, including India. This is followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lower respiratory infections and neonatal disorders.
In 1990, diarrheal diseases were the leading cause of death. Due to old age, 300.53 people out of every lakh population died. Ischemic heart disease caused the highest number of deaths in 2023, with an age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) of 127.82 per lakh population.
According to the study, Covid-19, the biggest cause of death in 2021, will drop to 20th place in 2023. This is followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections and neonatal disorders.
Nearly half of deaths and disability could be prevented by significantly modifying some key risk factors, such as reducing high blood sugar and high body mass index (BMI), researchers reported.
“The world’s aging population and the rapid increase in emerging risk factors have ushered in a new era of global health challenges,” said Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
He added, “The evidence presented in the Global Burden of Disease study is a wake-up call to which governments and healthcare practitioners must respond strategically.
The study analyzed health data from 204 countries and territories and 660 sub-national locations from 1990 to 2023 to estimate 375 diseases and injuries and 88 risk factors at a global level by age and sex.
The researchers found that the global age-standardized mortality rate by 2023 has declined by 67 percent since 1950, despite population growth and aging.
The global average age has also returned to pre-pandemic levels, with the average age at 76.3 years for women and 71.5 years for men, more than 20 years higher than in 1950. Infant mortality rates have also declined globally.
Despite this progress, the greatest increase in mortality was recorded among adolescents and young adults, mainly due to suicide, drug and excessive alcohol use.
Excess glass, air pollution and heat continued to have a more significant impact on global health.
According to the study, there has been a sharp increase in mental health disorders, with anxiety disorders increasing by 63 percent and depressive disorders by 26 percent.
–IANS
DCH/VC