PARTICIPANT WORKBOOK |17
increasingly composed of pre-packaged and processed foods along with
sedentary lifestyles. Infectious diseases remain a critical public health
priority for parts of the world. (Moore, et al.; WHO, 2002) However, many
countries now confront a ‘double disease burden’ with this transition (Yach,
et al., 2004) as rates of noncommunicable disease (NCDs), such as
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers account for more than half
5
in both developing and developed
countries, (PAHO WHA resolution, 2006). This is, in part, facilitated by
global migration into urban settings. In 2005, one-half of the world’s
population lived in cities. Most global regions experienced this
demographic shift from rural to urban – one of the most rapid in human
history.
NCDs are responsible for more than 60% of all deaths worldwide, with
more than 80% of NCD-related deaths occurring in low- and middle-
income countries (LMICs). (WHO 2011a) Nearly one-third of NCD-related
deaths in LMICs occur before age 60. This is compared to only 20% of
NCD-related deaths in high-income countries that occur before age 60.
NCDs also account for 48% of Disability Adjusted Life Years–DALYs
6
,
which pose a challenge for both development and productivity in countries
around the world. The burden of NCDs is expected to grow as both the
world population and the proportion of persons 60 years and older
continue to increase; NCDs disproportionately affect this age group.
Over the past decade cardiovascular diseases (CVD)
7
are the single
largest cause of mortality worldwide. This represents nearly 30% of all
5
Yach D, Hawkes C, Gould C, Hofman KJ. The Global Burden of Chronic Diseases:
Overcoming Impediments to Prevention and Control. JAMA. 2004;291(21):2616-2622.
doi:10.1001/jama.291.21.2616.
6
Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYS) is the sum of years of potential life lost due to
premature mortality and the years of productive life lost due to disability
7
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to a group of diseases involving the heart, blood
vessels, or the sequelae of poor blood supply due to a diseased vascular supply. Over
82% of the mortality burden is caused by ischaemic or coronary heart disease (IHD),
stroke (both hemorrhagic and ischaemic), hypertensive heart disease or congestive heart
failure (CHF). This varies significantly by global region.