Non-contagious kills more
June 28, 2011
MORE people worldwide die from
non-contagious diseases than
communicable diseases and
infections, according to a new
study conducted by the United
Nations and released this week.
Four main conditions: cancer,
diabetes, heart and lung disease
have arisen as the main killer of
two-thirds of the world’s
population, outstripping other
diseases such as HIV.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki
Moon said the diseases “have
emerged relatively unnoticed in
the developing world and are now
becoming a global epidemic.”
Researchers found that in 2008
63% (36m) of worldwide deaths
were due to a non-contagious
disease, around 80% of which were
from the developing world.
The main factors responsible for
the quartet’s dominance,
according to the UN, include
smoking, unhealthy dietary habits,
alcohol abuse, and lack of physical
activity.
Other factors include an ageing
population, trade globalisation and
increasing urbanisation.
Worryingly, UN researchers,
using current projections, estimate
that by 2030 cancer, diabetes and
heart and lung cancer will claim
the lives of around 52 million
people worldwide each year.
“No health problem in the
history of the world has ever gone
so hidden, misunderstood and
under-recorded,” said John Seffrin,
CEO of the American Cancer
Society, responding to the report.
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