The burden of non-communicable diseases
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease, are collectively responsible for almost 70 per cent of all deaths worldwide. The increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases constitutes a heavy burden on society, with serious social and economic consequences. There is a need to respond to cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, which represent a leading threat to human health and development.
Cardiovascular diseases are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. An estimated 17.9 million people died from it in 2019, representing 32 per cent of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 85 per cent were due to heart attack and stroke.
The key to cardiovascular disease reduction lies in the inclusion of cardiovascular disease management interventions in universal health coverage packages, although in a high number of countries health systems require significant investment and reorientation to effectively manage cardiovascular diseases. Patients with cardiovascular disease should have access to appropriate technology and medication.
Sometimes, surgical operations are required to treat cardiovascular diseases. They include:
- coronary artery bypass;
- balloon angioplasty (where a small balloon-like device is threaded through an artery to open the blockage);
- valve repair and replacement;
- heart transplantation; and
- artificial heart operations.
International Day for Interventional Cardiology
Interventional cardio-angiology improves health, increases life expectancy and improves the quality of life.
The first coronary angioplasty was performed by Dr. Andreas Grüntzig on 16 September 1977. Since then angioplasty has been the procedure that has saved the most grams of myocardium at risk worldwide.
In September 2022, the General Assembly decided to proclaim 16 September as International Day for Interventional Cardiology and invited stakeholders to observe annually the International Day for Interventional Cardiology in an appropriate manner and in accordance with national priorities, in order to raise public awareness of cardiovascular diseases and procedures, related complications, as well as prevention and care, including through education and the mass media.
Did you know?
- Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally.
- Over three quarters of deaths from cardiovascular diseases take place in low- and middle-income countries.
- Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing behavioural risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.
Resources
Documents
- International Day for Interventional Cardiology (A/RES/76/302)
- Political declaration of the high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases
- Political declaration of the high-level meeting on universal health coverage
UN observances related to health
- World Health Day (7 April)
- World Autism Awareness Day (2 April)
- World No-Tobacco Day (31 May)
- International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (26 June)
- International Day of Clean Air for blue skies (7 September)
- World Mental Health Day (10 October)
- World Diabetes Day (14 November)
- World AIDS Day (1 December)
- International Universal Health Coverage Day (12 December)
- International Day of Epidemic Preparedness (27 December)
