Understanding Non-Communicable Diseases (SDG3): Impact, Statistics, and Data Visualizing.
In this article, I will be examining certain non-communicable diseases and exploring their epidemiology and impact, statistics. This will involve the significance of data visualization in conveying information effectively.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally. Every year, 17.9 million people lose their lives due to cardiovascular diseases, making it the leading cause of NCD deaths. Following closely behind are cancer, responsible for 9.3 million deaths annually, chronic respiratory diseases causing 4.1 million deaths, and diabetes, which accounts for 2.0 million deaths, including those caused by kidney disease associated with diabetes. These four groups of diseases account for over 80% of all premature NCD deaths.
In this article, I have selected four disease areas, which are Colorectal Cancer, Cardiovascular disease, Dementia, and Diabetes. l would also be prioritizing fact-checking from different sources to generate the best articles for my readers. Let's dive in.
What is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, refers to cancer occurring in the large bowel, which includes the colon and the rectum. Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, which can invade nearby tissue or spread to other body parts. Colorectal cancer most commonly develops over several years from small growths, also known as polyps or adenomas, anywhere along the length of the large bowel. Symptoms of this cancer include the presence of blood in stool, abdominal pain, and changes in the individual’s bowel movements.
Colorectal cancer accounts for about 10% of new cancer cases. In 2018, it was estimated that around 4.8 million people were living with this disease. It’s a severe condition, and in 2014, the global 5-year survival rate from colon and rectal cancer ranged from 30% to over 70% in different parts of the world. The incidence of this cancer and its high mortality rate explains why it’s currently the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In 2016, it was the 18th leading cause of death, higher than parasitic and vector-borne diseases. The global burden of colorectal cancer isn’t uniform.
The bar chart above illustrates the distribution of colorectal cancer cases across different regions. Here’s what the data visualization tells us:
- Asia has the highest number of colorectal cancer cases, with over half a million cases (506,449) giving it the fastest growth in incidence rate. This could be attributed to population size, lifestyle, and healthcare access.
- Europe has the second-highest number of cases, with approximately 244,824. Early detection, Diet, and lifestyle are thought to play a large role in these sporadic cases. For example, in the UK, diet, and lifestyle factors are thought to account for over 50% of colorectal cancers.
- North America (including the United States and Canada) reports a significant number of cases (63,987). Lifestyle factors, such as diet and physical activity, could play a role in this region’s colorectal cancer incidence.
- Latin America and the Caribbean have around 69,435 cases. Socioeconomic factors and healthcare disparities influence these numbers.
- Africa reports 42,875 cases, which is lower than other regions. Access to healthcare, awareness, and varying risk factors might contribute to this pattern.
- Oceania has the lowest number of cases, with 7,603. This region includes countries like Australia and New Zealand, where healthcare infrastructure and awareness campaigns may contribute to lower case numbers.
Raising Awareness and Promoting Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer.
Colorectal cancer is a serious health concern affecting millions of people worldwide. Raising awareness about this disease and promoting early detection is essential to reducing its impact on individuals and communities. Educating the public about the importance of screenings and recognizing early signs can save lives and improve outcomes.
Cardiovascular Disease or CVD
Cardiovascular disease or CVD is an umbrella term for several related illnesses that affect the heart and circulatory system. CVD is the leading cause of death globally.
What is CVD?
CVD is a term that covers the disorder of the blood vessels. Some common cardiovascular conditions include stroke, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), coronary heart disease (CHD), and peripheral artery disease. As we explore the complexities of CVD, we will not only uncover its impact on society but also analyze and visualize data using the vast amount of information provided by the World Health Organization. First, a visualization looking at the breakdown of data by gender or ethnicity for all regions would be overwhelming and difficult to conclude from.
Secondly, cardiovascular health outcomes, like many other diseases, are subject to environmental and sociocultural factors alongside genetic predispositions. Meaning, that trends in CVD outcomes likely slightly vary by location.
We will look at some statistics on how CVD affects different regions and genders worldwide. First, I want to examine the gender difference in the probability of premature mortality from cardiovascular disease. I will be sharing some interesting statistics about the gender distribution of regions around the world. We will use data from the World Health Organization (WHO), which collects and reports information on CVD mortality and morbidity. The data is from the year 2019.
The chart below shows the number of deaths due to CVD by region and gender. The regions are categorized according to the WHO classification, which divides the world into six distinct regions. The chart also provides comprehensive data on the global total and the overall total for each gender.
As we can see from the chart, CVD affects both males and females equally, with each gender accounting for 50% of the total deaths. However, there are some regional differences in the distribution of CVD deaths. The European Region has the highest number of cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths for both men and women. It is closely followed by the African Region and the Region of the Americas. The Eastern Mediterranean Region and the Western Pacific Region exhibit the same levels of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality across both genders. On the other hand, the South-East Asian Region stands out with the most promising statistics, displaying the lowest number of CVD deaths for both genders.
CVD is a major health problem in all regions of the world, affecting both males and females equally. The global average death rate from CVD is 204 per 100,000 population for both genders. However, there are some regional variations in the data. For example, the African Region and the European Region have the highest death rates from CVD, with 384 and 408 per 100,000 population respectively. Meanwhile, the Eastern Mediterranean Region and the Western Pacific Region exhibit the lowest death rates from CVD, with 176 and 176 per 100,000 people respectively. The Region of Americas and the South-East Asian Region have intermediate death rates from CVD, with 272 and 96 per 100,000 population respectively.
These regional differences reflect the different levels of development, health systems, risk factors, and prevention strategies in each region. Rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are considerably higher in both the African and European Regions due to a multitude of factors. These factors include aging populations, high blood pressure, tobacco consumption, unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity, and the distressing presence of air pollution. The Eastern Mediterranean Region and the Western Pacific Region, however, might experience lower rates of cardiovascular disease. Several reasons can account for this, including having a younger population, maintaining healthier blood pressure, decreasing tobacco usage, adopting nutritious diets, engaging in more physical activity, and reducing air pollution levels.
The chart demonstrates that cardiovascular disease (CVD) does not discriminate by gender. Men and women worldwide have equal rates of mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), indicating that they encounter comparable risks and protective factors against CVD. However, there may be differences in the types and outcomes of CVD between genders. For example, some traditional risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes are common for both genders. However, conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and pregnancy-related complications can increase CVD risk factors in women. Menopause also introduces changes in lipid profiles that can affect the health of the heart. Men and women might exhibit different symptoms when experiencing a heart attack. Men often experience classic symptoms like chest pain or discomfort, while women might have more subtle symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and back pain. This can lead to underdiagnosis and delayed treatment in women. This highlights the necessity for increased research, awareness, prevention, and treatment of CVD globally. It also emphasizes the importance of addressing social determinants of health that impact CVD risk and outcomes.
Taking steps towards a healthy lifestyle can help you manage and modify certain risk factors, giving you greater control over your well-being. By maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet, engaging in regular physical activity, quitting smoking, and effectively managing stress, you can significantly improve your overall health and by taking coordinated action, including raising awareness and advocating for prevention and treatment, we can alleviate the impact of CVD and improve the lives of individuals worldwide.
Dementia
During my research on Dementia, I stumbled upon a highly informative fact sheet from the WHO and a thought-provoking article by The Lancet. These valuable resources provide a comprehensive summary of the condition and shed light on the global impact of Alzheimer's disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified dementia as a significant public health concern. In May 2017, the World Health Assembly approved the Global Action Plan to address the public health response to dementia from 2017 to 2025. This plan provides a comprehensive roadmap for policymakers and international, regional, and national partners. The measures to be implemented encompass prioritizing dementia as a crucial public health concern, increasing societal awareness and fostering inclusivity for individuals living with dementia, minimizing the risk of developing the condition, improving diagnosis, treatment, and care, establishing comprehensive information systems for dementia, extending support to caregivers, and advancing research and innovation in the field.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is a syndrome and umbrella term used to describe the symptoms of a group of diseases that impair memory, behavior, and thinking. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia affects all people. However, it is not a normal part of age. It’s one of the major causes of disability and dependency worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease or AD is the most common type of dementia and may contribute to 60 to 70% of cases.
Different types of diseases can contribute to the development of dementia. Firstly, there are degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia which can cause dementia. These progressive diseases primarily affect neurons or specific subsets of neurons in specific brain areas. Secondly, vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain typically after a stroke. For example, there are different types of infarcts, pleadings, and white matter lesions. Thirdly, dementia can be due to treatable diseases, such as toxic disorders, depression, and infectious. Acknowledging and thoroughly understanding these conditions is crucial to prevent irreversible brain damage associated with various forms of dementia. Additionally, accurately diagnosing dementia can be a challenging task due to the wide range of symptoms observed.
Approximately 50 million people were living with dementia in 2015. But by 2050, the number is expected to grow to 150 million. This is a huge increase mainly related to the fact that we are living longer. The largest increase in dementia prevalence will happen in low and middle-income countries.
Dementia is an overwhelming problem not only for the people who have it but also for caregivers and families. It is also a huge economic burden in 2018. The worldwide cost of dementia was 1 trillion US dollars. This estimate includes the cost via informal care provided by family and friends. Social care is also known as Community Care and Medical Care.
In conclusion, dementia is now recognized as a public health priority. So what can we do about dementia? One of the challenges of dementia is the detection of early-stage or pre-clinical disease through screening.
Diabetes
I will be exploring diabetes, a major non-communicable disease epidemic and the 6th leading cause of death globally. According to WHO fact sheets.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. Hyperglycemia, which is also known as elevated blood glucose or elevated blood sugar, is a prevalent consequence of unmanaged diabetes. Its prolonged presence wreaks havoc on numerous vital systems within the body, most notably the nerves and blood vessels, causing severe and lasting harm.
Types of Diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Gestational diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the body’s immune system attacks the cells that produce the insulin which controls blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes generally occurs early in life and it’s a lifelong condition. In 2017, there were 9 million people with type 1 diabetes; the majority of them live in high-income countries. Neither its cause nor the means to prevent it are known.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a medical condition characterized by insufficient insulin production or inadequate response of body cells to insulin, also known as insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes usually develops silently and remains inconspicuous until middle age or even later in life, although it can sometimes impact younger people as well. Globally, type 2 diabetes is by far the most common, around 90 percent or more of cases are type 2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy in women who did not have diabetes before becoming pregnant. It occurs due to hormonal changes and increased insulin resistance during pregnancy, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Women with gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery. Gestational diabetes is diagnosed through prenatal screening, rather than through reported symptoms.
These women and possibly their children are also at increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the future.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of risk factors, including both lifestyle and genetic factors. People who are overweight, obese, physically inactive, and consume a diet high in sugars and calories are at a higher risk of developing this condition.
Symptoms
In type 2 diabetes, the symptoms can be mild and may take many years to be noticed.
Symptoms of diabetes include:
- feeling very thirsty
- needing to urinate more often than usual
- blurred vision
- feeling tired
- losing weight unintentionally
The rising burden of Diabetes in Middle-Income Countries
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes poses a severe risk to the welfare and mortality rates in middle-income countries, where an astonishing 80% of individuals with diabetes live. These countries face a double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as challenges in providing adequate health care and social protection for their populations.
The rising burden of diabetes in middle-income countries is driven by several factors, such as rapid urbanization, aging, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, and genetic susceptibility. Moreover, many people with diabetes remain undiagnosed or untreated due to a lack of awareness, access, or affordability of health services and medications.
To tackle this global health challenge, it is crucial that all key players, such as governments, healthcare providers, civil society organizations, private sector entities, and individuals, work together in a coordinated manner. Some of the key strategies to prevent and control diabetes include:
- Promoting healthy behaviors such as physical activity, balanced nutrition, and smoking cessation.
- Strengthening health systems to provide universal coverage and quality care for people with diabetes and other chronic conditions.
- Improving surveillance and monitoring of diabetes and its risk factors, as well as its complications and outcomes.
- Promote Public Health Interventions.
In conclusion, Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major global health challenge that affects millions of people and causes significant morbidity and mortality. In this article, I have discussed the causes, prevention, and impact of NCDs by using statistics and data visualization. We can better understand the causes, impacts, and solutions of NCDs and can help us measure the burden of NCDs.
I hope that this article has provided some useful insights and information on NCDs and how we can tackle them effectively. Thank you for reading and stay healthy!
References
- Global Burden of Metabolic Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases Collaboration
Cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mortality burden of cardiometabolic risk factors from 1980 to 2010: a comparative risk assessment.
Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2014; 2: 634–647 - NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC). Worldwide trends in diabetes since 1980: a pooled analysis
of 751 population-based studies with 4*4 million participants. Lancet 2016; published online April 7.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00618-8. - Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2014. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014.
- (2018). The increasing burden of diabetes and variations among the states of India: The Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2016. The Lancet Global Health, 6(12), e1352-e1362. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30387-5
