Sport and Health

  

Globally, the most prevalent non-communicable or chronic diseases include heart disease and stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes. These and other chronic diseases are the major cause of death (60%) and disability worldwide, taking the lives of over 35 million people in 2005, including many young people and those in middle age. The total number of people dying from chronic diseases is double that of all infectious diseases, including HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

   Contrary to the perception that chronic diseases primarily affect high income countries, 80% of chronic disease deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. These countries are experiencing a rapid upsurge, especially in urban settings. Cardiovascular disease alone will kill five times as many people as HIV and AIDS in these countries. Without action to address the causes, deaths from chronic disease will increase a further 17% between 2005 and 2015.

   New estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that chronic diseases place a grave economic burden on countries. In 2005, the estimated losses in national income from heart disease, stroke and diabetes (reported in international dollars) were $18 billion in China, $11 billion in the Russian Federation, $9 billion in India, and $3 billion in Brazil. These losses will continue to accumulate if no action is taken. Investment in chronic disease prevention programs is therefore essential for many low- and middle-income countries struggling to reduce poverty. In response to these challenges, several countries have already adapted their MDG targets and indicators to include chronic disease.

   The global increase in chronic disease is driven largely by globalization, urbanization, and the rapid aging of populations. These determinants contribute to the three primary risk factors common to most chronic disease — unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use. These risk factors are the same around the world and they are modifiable. The WHO estimates that 80% of all cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and 40% of all cancer cases can be prevented by eliminating these risk factors.