MAJOR CAUSES OF DEATH AND DISABILITY

Major causes of death and disability in low and middle income countries in the 2020

Major causes of death and disability in low and middle income countries in the 2020

Introduction

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as a percentage of total mortality inevitably increase as an epidemiological outcome of population ageing and hazardous exposures, particularly fuming, increase. A decade ago we were notified that the 'ageing crisis' would swamp public assets and the same message extends to be reiterated. Now we are being notified that NCDs in the evolving world comprise a 'race against time' although over the last two decades the 'threat' of coronary heart disease has been continually emphasised, without much signal of prioritization. In the majority of nations, all-cause mortality at ages 15-59 has shown a continual, downward tendency over the last two decades, although these favourable tendencies have been attenuated markedly in sub-Saharan Africa and some eastern European nations as a outcome of deaths due to HIV and to wounds, respectively. As the urgent position has not materialized and the race has not yet been lost, it is pertinent to ask who are the probable beneficiaries of these alarmist strategies. In the previous case, the private retirement benefits part stood to gain considerable buying into had World Bank principles to evolve mandatory 'multi-pillar' schemes of publicly and privately managed retirement benefits and a voluntary pillar of personal savings been taken up. In the latter case it is the pharmaceutical and the global health care commerce that may benefit. Of course, in both cases, there is an altruistic component of stopping pain and assisting the sick.

Discussion

NCDs account for the majority of the global problem of disease and, in LMICs, are projected to increase markedly. Table 1 displays the estimated 10 leading causes of death in 2000. Table ...