1 of 5 may have fatal non-communicable disease

Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are estimated to account for 65 per cent of all deaths in the UAE, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).

Last week, the WHO presented the Non Communicable Diseases Country Profiles 2014, an updated overview of the situation evolving NCDs in all member states since 2000.

The four main types of NCDs -or chronic diseases- are cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.

In the UAE cardiovascular diseases are the most common NCD. In the period 2000-2010 cardiovascular diseases accounted for 30 per cent of the total number of deaths. Cancer was the cause of death in 13 per cent of the cases, while chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes both accounted for 3 per cent. A further 13 per cent of the deaths were caused by uncategorized NCDs.

In contrast, injuries were the cause of death in 23 per cent of the total death cases in the UAE.

Although NCDs are usually associated with older age groups, the probability of dying between ages 30 and 70 years from the 4 main NCDs is 19 per cent in the UAE, states the WHO country profile.

In the same age group, fatality rates are significantly higher in males than in females, statistics showed. While fatalities as a result of NCDs among men neared 4000 in 2012, these rates were less than 1500 among females in the same year.

The statistics also suggest that prevalence rates among men are on the rise when it comes to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, while cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and other NCDs have lowered in prevalence. Among women in the mentioned age groups the prevalence of all CDS has seen a slight rise.

“These diseases are driven by forces that include ageing, rapid unplanned urbanization, and the globalization of unhealthy lifestyles. For example, globalization of unhealthy lifestyles like unhealthy diets may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, increased blood glucose, elevated blood lipids, overweight and obesity. These are called 'intermediate risk factors' which can lead to cardiovascular disease,” explained the WHO.

“Tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and the harmful use of alcohol increase the risk of or cause most NCDs.”

In the UAE, obesity has proven to be the largest cause of NCDs, accounting for 30 per cent of the risk factors among adult men and 39.9 per cent among adult women, counting those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher.

Blood pressure showed to be another significant risk factor, occurring among 21,1 per cent of the male population and 13,3 per cent of the female population.

How does the UAE compare?

Current global mortality from NCDs remains unacceptably high and is increasing, stated the WHO.
According to the organisation 28 million people die each year from NCDs, with over 14 million deaths occurring between the ages of 30 and 70.

Although the number of NCD deaths has increased worldwide and in every region since 2000, most of the fatalities occur in developing countries.

When comparing the UAE to other developed countries such as the US, UK, Canada, Switzerland, and Germany, rates are somewhat similar.

Mortality rates in these developed countries range between 88 and 92 per cent, a higher prevalence rate compared to the 65 per cent in the UEA, where injuries make up a comparatively large portion of the fatalities.

However, the probability of dying from NCD between the ages of 30-70 ranges between 9-14 per cent, a lower rate than the 19 per cent in the UAE.

In all the countries mentioned above cardiovascular disease and cancer make up for the two most prevalent NCD’s, however, in most countries the two conditions see an almost similar mortality rate, whereas mortality rates of cancer are significantly lower than those of cardiovascular disease in the UAE.

Similarly, obesity and blood pressure are the most common causes of NCDs in all the countries mentioned above. However, alcohol and tobacco use shows to play a large role in the developed countries too, risk factors which are far less in the UAE.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.