Global Burden and Health Trends of Non-Communicable Diseases

The non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic, which is expected to increase in the future, has a serious negative impact on development in human, social and economic realms. NCDs reduce productivity and contribute to poverty. NCDs already pose a substantial economic burden: The macroeconomic simulations suggest a cumulative output loss of US$ 47 trillion over the next two decades. Cardiovascular disease is the dominant contributor to the global economic burden of NCDs. The majority of NCDs can be prevented through population-wide and individual interventions that reduce major risk factors. Best practices related to reducing risks and preventing diseases exist in many countries with different income levels. Interventions that combine a range of evidence-based approaches show better results.