Social

Home page

Social

Cardiovascular and cancer deaths to increase by 2030

26 February 2011 09:24 (UTC +04:00)

According to WHO, by 2030, almost 23.6 million people will die from CVDs, mainly from heart disease and stroke. These are projected to remain the single leading causes of death. The largest percentage increase will occur in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The largest increase in number of deaths will occur in the South-East Asia Region.
Over 80% of the worldâ€™s deaths from CVDs occur in low- and middle-income countries. Low- and middle-income countries are disproportionally affected: 82% of CVD deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries and occur almost equally in men and women. People in low- and middle-income countries who suffer from CVDs and other noncommunicable diseases have less access to effective and equitable health care services which respond to their needs (including early detection services). The poorest people in low- and middle-income countries are affected most. At household level, sufficient evidence is emerging to prove that CVDs and other noncommunicable diseases contribute to poverty. For example, catastrophic health care expenditures for households with a family member with CVD can be 30 per cent or more of annual household spending.
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2008. Certain infections cause up to 20% of cancer deaths in low- and middle-income countries and 9% of cancer deaths in high-income countries. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for cancer. Harmful alcohol use, poor diet and physical inactivity are other main risk factors. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 11 million in 2030. The main types of cancer are: lung (1.4 million deaths), stomach (740 000 deaths), liver (700 000 deaths), colorectal (610 000 deaths) and breast (460 000 deaths).