The Impact of Non-Communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are illnesses which cannot be transmitted to others. They are caused by a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors. The most common NCDs include cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes and cancers. NCDs are important to consider in the wider picture of global health, as they are the leading cause of disability and death worldwide, and 77% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). They are becoming increasingly more common in LMICs due to epidemiological transition.