Global Burden and Health Trends of Non-Communicable Diseases

Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are the biggest global killers today. More than 60 % of all deaths are caused by NCDs and nearly 80 % of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where the highest proportion of deaths under the age of 60 from NCDs occur. A large percentage of NCDs are preventable through the reduction of main behavioural (tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity) and metabolic risk factors (raised cholesterol, raised blood pressure, overweight and obesity) .