Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors.

NCDs kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally.
• 77% of all NCD deaths are in low- and middle-income countries.
• Yearly, more than 15 million people die from a NCD between the ages of 30 and 69 years; 85% of these "premature" deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
• Yearly, cardiovascular diseases account for most 17.9 million people, followed by cancers (9.3 million), respiratory diseases (4.1 million), and diabetes (1.5 million). These four groups of diseases account for over 80% of all premature NCD deaths.

Detection, screening and treatment of NCDs, as well as palliative care, are key components of the response to NCDs.

Adapted from WHO, Fact sheets. Noncommunicable diseases. Internet. Available at https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases. Accessed on October 21, 2021.