Friday, February 11, 2011

[EQ] South Asia at Health Crossroads with High Rates of Heart Disease, Diabetes, and Obesity

South Asia at Health Crossroads with High Rates of Heart Disease, Diabetes, and Obesity

World bank February 2011


Available online PDF [127p.] at: http://bit.ly/dXVL2k

February 9, 2011 - “……The unfair burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is especially harsh on poor people, who, after heart attacks, face life-long major illnesses, have to pay for most of their care out of their savings or by selling their possessions, and then find themselves caught in a poverty trap where they can’t get better and they can’t work……..” - Michael Engelgau,.

South Asia is home to a large, fast-growing population with a substantial proportion living in poverty. The population is relatively young and average life expectancy is now at 64 years and rising. Lifestyle changes associated with urbanization and globalization is increasing the risk factors and disease onset at younger ages. As a result, South Asians are becoming more vulnerable to heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and obesity, and creating significant new pressures on health systems to treat and care for them. The current health systems have failed to to adjust to people’s changing needs.

Over half of the disease burden is now attributable to Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), and therefore a larger share than communicable diseases, maternal and child health issues, and nutritional causes combined. This pattern is similar to that of high-income countries decades ago. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of both deaths and forgone disability adjusted life years (DALYs) in working-age adults (15–69 years). By contrast, communicable diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, respiratory infections, and water- and vectorborne disease) still remain prominent in the total population creating what is referred to as a “double-disease burden.”

Tackling NCDs early on with better prevention and treatment would significantly spare poor people the crushing burden of poor health, lost earnings, deepening poverty, and the risk of disability and premature death, which are becoming all too common in the changing demographics of the region….”

Content:

Executive Summary

Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Regional Aging and Disease Burden

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Country-level Aging and Disease Burden

Why the Need to Act Now

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Rationale for Action

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Opportunities for Prevention and Control

How to Respond

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Developing a Policy Options Framework for Prevention and Control of NCDs

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Country Capacity and Accomplishments and Application fo the Policy Options Framework

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Regional Strategies for NCD Prevention and Control

Chapter 8: References

Appendices

Appendix 1: Country Capacity Assessments

Appendix 2: Economic Rationale for Public Policy to Address NCDs

Appendix 3: Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries

Chapter 12: Appendix 4: Aligning Policy Options with Burden and Capacity

Chapter 13: Appendix 5: Capacity, Key Accomplishments and Situational Analysis for NCDs in South Asian Countries

Country NCDs Policy Briefs

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

 

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