Other NCDs

An autoimmune disease is a condition that results from an anomalous response of the immune system. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases that affect a wide range of organs. Common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain and swelling, skin problems, abdominal pain and digestive issues, recurring fever, and swollen glands. Some of the most common conditions are Type 1 Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Crohn’s disease, Psoriasis, Celiac Disease, Addison’s, Psoriatic Arthritis, Lupus, Scleroderma, Sjögren’s syndrome, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Risk factors

Certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing an autoimmune condition these often include a mix of genetic and environmental factors.

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis can is often complex, as symptoms often overlap with other common conditions. Treatment often focuses on managing symptoms and preventing complications, currently, there are no known cures for most autoimmune conditions.

Global Burden

Autoimmune conditions have a major impact on both individuals and families, as well as social and healthcare costs. Autoimmune diseases affect a significant portion of the global population, with estimates ranging from 7.6% to 9.4%. The prevalence of autoimmune diseases is on the rise, though the exact reasons are not fully understood. There are significant inequalities in the burden of autoimmune diseases across different regions and populations, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and policies. Worldwide inequities and gaps in access to healthcare and data mean that the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases can differ significantly. In many developing countries, treatments may be more limited and less effective, or they may focus on symptom management, which can lead autoimmune diseases to progress unchecked.

Blood disorders encompass a wide range of cancerous and non-cancerous conditions affecting both blood components and function, including anemia, aplastic anemia, sickle cell, clotting disorders such as hemophilia, and blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Symptoms of Blood Disorders can include: fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, fever, increase susceptibility to infectious disease and headache.

Risk factors

While some blood disorders are inherited, others can be caused by infections, other medical conditions, medication side effects, or nutrition deficiency

Management and Treatment

Chronic blood disorders may be managed but usually persist throughout a patient’s life. Each type of blood disorder will require a different treatment or management strategy, such as iron supplementation for anemia, or vitamin B12 injections for megaloblastic anemia.

Global Burden

The global burden of blood disorders is difficult to judge, but the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study estimated a global prevalence of 24.3% and 52 million years lived with disability due to anemia alone in 2021.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function. Types of CKD include Congenital Abnormalities of the Kidneys and Urinary Tract, Glomerulonephritis (Glomerular Disease) and Polycystic Kidney Disease among others. Symptoms can include tigue, swelling in the feet and ankles, changes in the frequency of urination, nausea and vomiting, among others. CKD is increasingly becoming recognized as a global health priority and kidney failure causes more than a million deaths each year.

Risk factors

Key risk factors for CKD include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, a family history of kidney disease, obesity, smoking, abnormal kidney structure, older age, and frequent use of medication that can damage the kidneys.

Prevention and treatment

CKD has no cure, but in general, treatment consists of measures to help control signs and symptoms, reduce complications and slow progression of the disease.

Global burden

As of 2024, around 850 million people across the globe are estimated to be affected by CKD; as with other NCDs, the impact is greatest in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, where access prevention or treatment is limited.

Chronic liver disease includes alcohol related conditions such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, as well as NAFLD, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is a condition where excess fat builds up in the liver, but it’s not caused by heavy alcohol consumption. NAFLD is often associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Symptoms for chronic liver disease include fatigue, jaundice, abdominal swelling, and easy bruising, however, NAFLD often has few or no symptoms in its early stages, making it a “silent disease”.

Risk factors

Risk factors for chronic lover disease include alcohol consumption, some prescription medications, and obesity.

Prevention and Management

Prevention measures include maintaining a healthy weight and diet, regular exercise and avoiding alcohol.

Global Burden

Liver disease accounts for two million deaths annually and is responsible for 4% of all deaths worldwide- the majority of these deaths occur in men. NAFLD is the leading cause of chronic liver diseases worldwide, especially in countries with low-to-middle socio demographic index level.

There are a wide range of chronic, non-communicable skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia areata and hidradenitis suppurativa among others. These conditions can have a significant impact on an individuals appearance, and can lead to mental health conditions. Symptoms vary significantly, depending on the type of condition.

Risk factors

Risk factors include genetics, lifestyle, and environmental triggers.

Management & Treatment

Skin conditions are often managed with medication, proper skin care and lifestyle changes.

Global Burden

Non-communicable skin conditions such as psoriasis or atopic eczema are a major cause of global disease burden, and individuals affected by these conditions often experience loss of quality of life, the socio-economic costs of these conditions are enormous.

Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term, progressive condition where the pancreas becomes permanently damaged from inflammation, leading to impaired digestive and hormone-producing functions, and often resulting in abdominal pain and other complications. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, digestive problems, weight loss, diabetes, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

Risk factors

Key risk factors for chronic pancreatitis include alcohol abuse and some genetic conditions.

Prevention

Prevention focuses on lifestyle changes such as limiting alcohol, stopping smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Global Burden

The global estimate of chronic pancreatitis incidence is approximately ten cases per 100, 000 person-years. Incidence is twice as high in men as in women. While global age-standardized rates of pancreatitis have declined, significant regional and socioeconomic disparities persist.

Endocrine disorders are a type of noncommunicable disease where the body’s hormone levels are too high or too low, or when the body doesn’t respond to hormones properly. Examples of endocrine diseases include: Diabetes, Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), Addison’s disease, Cushing’s disease, Graves’ disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, Prolactinoma, and cancers of the endocrine glands (several endocrine disorders are autoimmune conditions). Symptoms of endocrine disease include increased thirst and urination, increased hunger, unexpected weight changes, persistent sores, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, tiredness, and blurry vision.

Risk factors

Risk factors for endocrine disorders include a family history of similar conditions, some environmental exposures and genetic risk factors.

Prevention

Many endocrine disorders cannot be prevented, however, reducing risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, physical inactivity, and eating a healthy diet can be beneficial.

Global Burden

Type 2 Diabetes and Thyroid disease are some of the most common endocrine disorders. An estimated 200 million people are affected by thyroid diseases worldwide, with hypothyroidism being the most common, as well as thyroid cancer.

Musculoskeletal conditions (MSKs) are non-communicable diseases that affect:

• joints, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, spondyloarthritis;

• bones, such as osteoporosis, osteopenia and associated fragility fractures, traumatic fractures;

• muscles, such as sarcopenia;

• and multiple body areas or systems, such as regional (e.g. back and neck pain) and widespread (e.g. fibromyalgia) pain conditions, inflammatory diseases such as connective tissue diseases and vasculitis that have musculoskeletal manifestations, for example systemic lupus erythematosus, or amputation as a result of disease or trauma the muscles, such as sarcopenia and the bones.

Symptoms of MSKs include pain, reduced mobility and dexterity (skill performance, especially with the hands). MSKs also limit the day-to-day activities and can become chronically painful and disabling.

Risk factors

Risks for MSKs include repetitive actions, static postures, obesity and genetic and environmental risks.

Prevention

Strategies to prevent MSKs include regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, proper posture, ergonomic adjustments in the workspace, and taking frequent breaks to stretch and change positions.

Global Burden

Musculoskeletal conditions are the leading contributor to disability worldwide, with low back pain being the single leading cause of disability in 160 countries. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 data showed that approximately 1.71 billion people globally live with musculoskeletal conditions, including low back pain, neck pain, fractures, other injuries, osteoarthritis, amputation and rheumatoid arthritis.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are conditions that disrupt normal brain development and function, leading to difficulties in areas like cognition, language, behavior, and motor skills. Some well-known neurodevelopmental disorders include autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, specific learning disorders as well as genetic and chromosomal disorders, such as Down’s syndrome, Turner syndrome, Williams syndrome, Rett’s syndrome, and Fragile X syndrome. Symptoms typically emerge during early childhood, often before a child starts school. While symptoms may change or evolve over time, the underlying difficulties associated with NDDs are often lifelong.

Risk factors

Risk factors include genetic predispositions, prenatal exposures, birth complications, and environmental exposures.

Global burden

Globally, an estimated 15% of children and adolescents are affected by neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). There has been a global increase in community awareness and public health responses related to NDDs, leading to better case identification and definition, which may contribute to higher reported prevalence rates. There is a need for a secondary intervention in the fields of public health and education to minimize socioemotional consequences, prevent academic failure, and reduce the economic cost to society.

Neurological conditions are encompassed by a wide range of conditions from sudden onset injuries to chronic degenerative diseases, neurological conditions affect the nervous system, resulting from damage to the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. These include conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, stroke, migraine, tension-type headache, chronic recurring diseases like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, CTE, other motor neuron diseases, and sleep disorders. Symptoms can include paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation, seizures, confusion, pain and altered levels of consciousness.

Risk factors

Neurological conditions can arise from various factors including: injury, infections, tumors, or degenerative processes; genetic factors; and developmental issues ; lifestyle or environmental health factors.

Global Burden

There are over 600 known neurological conditions and this number is increasing all the time as diagnosis improves. This group of conditions affected 43% of the world population in 2021. Regions with the highest were central and western sub-Saharan Africa. Analysis suggests that worldwide, the overall amount of disability, illness, and premature death—a measurement known as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)—caused by neurological conditions increased by 18% over the past 31 years, rising from around 375 million years of healthy life lost in 1990 to 443 million years in 2021.

Obesity, characterized by excessive body fat, is increasingly recognized as a non-communicable disease (NCD) and a major risk factor for various chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The rising prevalence of obesity worldwide is a major public health concern, contributing significantly to the global burden of NCDs.

Risk factors

In most cases obesity is a multifactorial disease due to obesogenic environments, psycho-social factors and genetic variants. At the same time, the lack of an effective health system response to identify excess weight gain and fat deposition in their early stages.

Prevention and Management

Preventing and managing obesity involves adopting healthy lifestyle habits, including a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight. Addressing childhood obesity is crucial, as it can lead to related health problems in adulthood. Public health interventions are needed to address the underlying causes of obesity, such as promoting healthy food choices and increasing physical activity opportunities.

Associated conditions

While obesity is recognized as a disease in its own right, it is also a major risk factor for other conditions, including:

• heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular problems as well as

• insulin resistance, increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

• several types of cancer, including breast, colon, and endometrial cancer.

• osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal problems.

Obesity is associated with a reduced life expectancy and a higher risk of premature death.

Global Burden

Globally, the burden of obesity is increasing, with one in eight people now living with obesity. Worldwide adult obesity has more than doubled since 1990, and adolescent obesity has quadrupled. In 2022, 2.5 billion adults aged 18 years and older were overweight, including over 890 million adults who were living with obesity, including 39 million children under the age of 5 years in 2020 and 340 million children/adolescents aged 5-19 in 2016. NCD deaths attributable to obesity have risen to 5 million per year and in addition, many low- and middle-income countries face a double burden of obesity and malnutrition.

Non-communicable eye diseases are chronic eye conditions, including cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. These conditions often become more prevalent with older age and require ongoing management.

Risk Factors

Age and environmental factors significantly influence the likelihood of developing an eye condition. Smoking is a significant a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration and reduced physical activity is recognized as a leading risk factor for non-communicable eye diseases.

Link to other NCDs

People with eye health conditions appear to be more likely to have other NCDs than people with good vision, although this is a complex field of research and the relationship between poor vision and other NCDs remains unclear.

Global Burden

According to the World Report on Vision, 2.2 billion people around the world have a vision impairment, of whom at least 1 billion have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed.