Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention as a Global Health Priority: The Way Forward

Dear Colleagues,

Rising rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have significant implications for healthcare systems and economies worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs make up 7 of the world’s top 10 causes of death (WHO, 2020) [1]. Rapid urbanization, population growth, rising obesity rates, and increasing socioeconomic inequalities have fuelled a ‘perfect storm’ for NCDs to rise and contribute to significant direct and indirect costs to healthcare systems. In many countries and settings, the greatest burden has always been—and continues to be—among high-risk communities such as disadvantaged, marginalized, and racialized groups. However, this heavy burden of NCDs on high-risk communities, healthcare systems, and societies at large will likely worsen due to the deepening inequalities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hardships, war and conflict, food insecurity, and persistent systemic racism and inequities. The recent Global Burden of Disease Study (Lancet 2020) [2] showed that, in the first year of the pandemic alone, NCDs drove more than one million deaths caused by the pandemic, sharing a syndemic relationship that needs to be further investigated. There is ample evidence that NCDs can be prevented and delayed with closer attention to: (1) the individual, social, and community determinants of health (i.e., health behaviours such as diet and physical activity, housing, food insecurity, built environment, access to healthcare and resources, education, employment, and gender equity); (2) unequal distribution of power and wealth; and (3) building stronger and resilient public health systems. Therefore, it is necessary to bring NCD prevention to the forefront of all research and policy efforts and make it a global health priority to promote healthier living, reduce disease risk and mortality, and reduce healthcare costs. We invite papers that aim to address these topics for this Special Issue, particularly those providing insight on leading causes or risk factors of NCDs, new approaches or policy solutions to prevent NCDs, impact of NCDs burden among communities impacted the most, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies that use diverse quantitative methods that leverage use of primary or secondary data sources or qualitative approaches including patient, provider, or community engagement to inform and guide future NCDs prevention efforts are welcomed.

References

[1]: World Health Organization. WHO reveals leading causes of death and disability worldwide: 2000-2019. Available online: https://www.who.int/news/item/09-12-2020-who-reveals-leading-causes-of-death-and-disability-worldwide-2000-2019. (accessed on 4 July 2022).

[2]: Institute of Health Measurement and Evaluation. The Lancet: Latest global disease estimates reveal perfect storm of rising chronic diseases and public health failures fuelling COVID-19 pandemic. Available online: https://www.healthdata.org/news-release/lancet-latest-global-disease-estimates-reveal-perfect-storm-rising-chronic-diseases-and (accessed on 4 July 2022).

Dr. Ghazal Fazli
Guest Editor

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