Luxembourg is among the few countries that have managed to reduce mortality from chronic diseases
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Chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNDs) - such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease - continue to be the leading cause of premature death in the WHO European Region. According to a new report, they result in a huge annual cost of more than $514.5 billion or €439.4 billion.
Key Facts:
- 60% of CVD deaths are related to behavioural and environmental factors: smoking, alcohol, poor diet, physical inactivity. These risks are growing particularly fast in Eastern Europe.
- The remaining 40% of deaths can be prevented or delayed with early diagnosis and timely treatment.
- Only 10 out of 53 countries in the WHO European Region met the target of reducing premature mortality from the four major MNDs by 25% between 2010 and 2025.
These include: Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. WHO estimates that 26 more countries could reach this goal if they rapidly strengthen prevention measures and improve the quality of health care.
WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge described the situation as paradoxical: "If СNDs were a virus, the world would be living in isolation. He emphasised that these diseases are ignored despite their magnitude and mortality.
