Largely Preventable Chronic Diseases Cause 86% Of Deaths In Europe

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Largely preventable chronic diseases cause 86% of deaths in Europe ...

World Health Organization, Switzerland - Sep 12, 2006

.... people will continue to die every year from mostly preventable diseases. ...

People die from all chronic diseases at dramatically younger ages in ...

Largely Preventable Chronic Diseases Cause 86% Of Deaths In Europe Main

Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology News

 

Aware of the rising costs and burden of chronic disease, countries across the

WHO European Region are taking a comprehensive approach to curbing the epidemic.

As many chronic diseases are closely linked to lifestyles, an estimated 80% of

heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, and 40% of cancer, could be avoided

if common lifestyle risk factors were eliminated. Without the engagement of a

wide range of sectors and stronger health systems for better prevention and

control, large numbers of people will continue to die every year from mostly

preventable diseases.

 

Ministers of health will debate a European strategy for the prevention and

control of noncommunicable diseases at the annual session of the WHO European

governing body, which takes place this week in Copenhagen, Denmark. The strategy

aims to make healthier choices easier choices, to strengthen health systems and

to widen the use of effective interventions to make people's lifestyles

healthier.

 

Today, noncommunicable diseases cause 86% of deaths and 77% of the disease

burden in the WHO European Region. This group of conditions includes

cardiovascular diseases, cancer, mental health problems, diabetes mellitus,

chronic respiratory disease and musculoskeletal conditions. Cardiovascular

diseases are the number-one killer, causing more than half of all deaths across

the Region, with heart disease or stroke the leading cause of death in all

countries.

 

Links to lifestyle

 

Seven leading risk factors - high blood pressure, tobacco, alcohol, high

cholesterol, overweight, low fruit and vegetable intake and physical inactivity

- account for almost 60% of all ill health in the Region. The leading risk

factors are high blood pressure for death, and tobacco for ill health. Alcohol

is the leading risk factor for both ill health and death in the Region's young

people, experts stress.

 

High costs to health and social systems

 

Noncommunicable diseases challenge health systems, and absorb substantial

amounts of resources. For example, chronic conditions are estimated to account

for 70-80% of health care expenses in Denmark and comprise 8 of the top 11

causes of hospital admission in the United Kingdom.

 

The economic impact of noncommunicable diseases goes beyond the costs to health

services. Indirect costs, such as those from lost productivity, can match or

sometimes exceed the direct costs. In addition, a significant proportion of the

total cost of care falls on patients and their families. In Sweden, 90% of the

total costs of musculoskeletal conditions have been calculated to be indirect:

31.5% for sick leave and 59% for early retirement.

 

The premature deaths of main wage earners and skilled workers affect both

households' income and countries' economies. Noncommunicable diseases were

estimated to reduce gross domestic product (GDP) in the Russian Federation by 1%

in 2005, with heart disease, stroke and diabetes causing an estimated loss to

national income equivalent to US$ 11 billion.

 

People die from all chronic diseases at dramatically younger ages in the central

and eastern countries in the Region than in western ones. An ageing Europe

presents additional challenges. By 2050, more than one quarter of the Region's

population is expected to be over 65 years. At least 35% of men aged over 60

have been found to have two or more chronic conditions. Health services must be

able to cope with these long-term conditions.

 

Potential health gain from reducing differences between socioeconomic groups

 

Within countries, noncommunicable diseases and their causes concentrate among

the poor and vulnerable. People in low socioeconomic groups have at least twice

the risk of serious illness and premature death as those in high socioeconomic

groups. When improvements occur, the benefits are unevenly distributed. People

in high socioeconomic groups often respond better and benefit more from health

interventions.

 

What can be done

 

Overall, a comprehensive strategy offers the greatest potential in the fight

against noncommunicable diseases. Such a strategy would help countries' health

systems promote health and prevent disease in the whole population, actively

target people at high risk and improve the care of those already suffering.

Action to reduce inequalities in health needs to be an integral part of all

measures.

 

" Investing in prevention and improved control of noncommunicable diseases will

improve the quality of life and well-being of people and societies, " says Dr

Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe. " Action needs to be scaled up

now. The burden on people, societies and health systems is unsustainable.

Effective interventions already exist, but not everyone gets a share of the

benefits. The greatest potential for gain lies in scaling up prevention through

better and more adequate health systems. If stronger health systems manage to

eliminate such major risk factors as alcohol, tobacco, obesity, etc., it is

estimated that 80% of heart disease, stroke and type II diabetes, and 40% of

cancer, could be avoided. "

 

The proposed European strategy, which is expected to be adopted today, contains

a series of effective measures for the prevention and control of noncommunicable

disease.

 

Most countries have already developed key areas of their capability to respond

to the crisis. The web site of the WHO Regional Office for Europe features

examples and offers more information on noncommunicable diseases in the WHO

European Region.

 

http://www.euro.who.int

 

 

 

 

 

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