NCDs at a Glance: NCD Mortality and Risk Factor Prevalence in the Americas

Abstract

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), principally cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, are the leading causes of death, and are responsible for approximately 80% of all deaths in the Region of the Americas. NCDs can be prevented through reduction of their main risk factors, namely tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. Premature deaths from NCDs can be mitigated through timely disease detection, treatment and care. The NCD agenda has been expanded beyond this concept of four diseases and four risk factors. Mental health is now included in the global NCD agenda, and air pollution, globally recognized as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases, is now included as the fifth NCD risk factor. This document considers the 5x5 NCD agenda and presents a snapshot of data on NCDs and risk factors for the Region of the Americas, for each category of disease and risk factor, by sex and for the 35 Member States of the Pan American Health Organization. It is intended to provide a visual snapshot of the current status of NCD mortality and risk factor prevalence and convey the significance of the burden of NCDs throughout the Region.