Over the last 6 years there is a 20% increase of government hospital admissions and 18% increase of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases. Half of the people died due to chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) are less than 70 years.
NCDs cause 400 deaths per day which is fairly more than the deaths caused by Dengue. Therefore the future life expectancy gains could be achieved mainly through NCD prevention and control, said Dr. Palitha Kumarapema, Consultant Community Physician, Ministry of Health at a seminar held in Colombo.
The determinants of NCD are globalization, urbanization, population ageing (socio-economic, cultural, political and environmental), unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use (modifiable risk factors), raised blood sugar, blood glucose, abnormal blood lipids and obesity (intermediate risk factors) and heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes (main chronic diseases).
Dr. Kumarapeli said that the prevalence of hypertension is 20% among 18-65 adult population and diabetes, 18% among urban and semi urban areas and 8% in rural population. There has been a rapid increase of the prevalence of diabetes over the last 20 years.
The modifiable risk factors are smoking, alcohol, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity. Dr. Kumarapeli highlighted the importance of paying due attention to modifiable risk factors as heart disease and other chronic NCDs are preventable by reduction of major risk factors at individual and community level which would be a direct and indirect investment for the government, society and finally the families.
- Asian Tribune -
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