Noncommunicable Diseases

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A line chart titled “Health Risks in LMICs” shows how the leading risk factors for disease burden change in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 1990 to 2023. In 1990, malnutrition ranks highest, followed by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), household air pollution, high blood pressure, dietary risks, tobacco, and high body-mass index. Over time, noncommunicable disease risks rise. By 2023, high blood pressure and dietary risks are the top contributors, while malnutrition and household air pollution decline in rank. Tobacco and high body-mass index increase modestly, and unsafe WASH drops to the lowest rank. The chart highlights a shift from communicable and environmental risks toward chronic disease risks in LMICs.

Does Pandemic Preparedness Depend on Confronting the Chronic Disease Crisis?

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An analysis looks at whether strategies to reduce the global burden of noncommunicable disease could aid pandemic preparedness

A horizontal bar chart titled “Headaches Cause More Harm in Women.” The chart shows age-standardized years lived with disability (YLDs) per 100,000 people in 2023, comparing women (dark blue) and men (yellow). For all headache disorders, women experience roughly twice the YLDs of men. The gap is larger for migraine, with women showing substantially higher disability than men. For tension-type headache, disability levels are much lower overall but remain higher in women than men. Source: IHME; chart by CFR/Allison Krugman for Think Global Health.

Why 1 in 3 People Worldwide Suffer From Headaches

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Pain medication misuse can stem from inadequate awareness around the global burden of headaches

A New Era for Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis

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Emerging biomarkers and digital tools are unlocking earlier and more accurate diagnosis

Teresa, 75, an Alzheimer's patient and former businesswoman, poses for a photograph inside the Alzheimer Foundation, in Mexico City, Mexico, on April 19, 2012.

The Economics of Lung Cancer and Drug Delays in Latin America

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A new analysis unpacks the extent of how slow regulatory approvals hamper cancer drug availability in Latin America

Norma del Carme Blandin, a cancer patient, sits in a wheelchair inside her bedroom, at the Casa-Albergue, in Managua, Nicaragua, on October 20, 2017.

To Tackle Obesity, India Needs More Than High Soda Taxes

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New taxes and policy target soft drinks, but they overlook other sugary beverages and the country's "obesogenic environment"

A vendor selling snacks and refreshment drinks waits for customers outside Alipore Zoological Garden, in Kolkata, India, on May 1, 2024.

Tobacco Control in Indonesia Hits Another Roadblock

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Faced with illicit cigarette trades and a low tobacco excise tax, Indonesia continues to struggle with its smoking epidemic

Tobacco Control in Indonesia Hits Another Roadblock

How Ozempic and GLP-1s Are Changing Childhood and Teen Weight Management

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As GLP-1 drugs surge in popularity, more research is needed to establish guidelines for use among young people

Micah Peterson, 15, and his mother talk with Marilyn Day, director of a child and teen weight management program, during a counseling session at The Children's Hospital, in Aurora, Colorado, on July 8, 2010.

Declarations Without Delivery: Weighing UN Plans for NCD Medicine Access

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International commitments to expand access to noncommunicable disease medicines have been slow to create impact

Women receive free treatment for breast cancer at the Bertha Calderon Women's Hospital, in Managua, Nicaragua, on October 17, 2012.

Around the World, Chronic Diseases Are Rising

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A new iteration of the Global Burden of Disease Study charts how 25 leading health risks have improved or worsened

Six small line charts show global disease burden trends, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) per 100,000 people, from 2000 to 2023. The top row—diarrheal diseases, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis—shows steady declines. A vertical line in 2020 marks the COVID-19 pandemic. The bottom row—ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and depressive disorders—shows ischemic heart disease remaining high with slight fluctuation, while diabetes and depression rise modestly. Infectious diseases fall sharply as noncommunicable diseases rise.

Nepal's Growing Reliance on Packaged Foods

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Over time, consuming packaged products limits diet diversity and leads to unhealthy weight

A woman sells beans and snacks at her food stall, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on April 26, 2013.

Brazil's Population Fragility Taxes National Health Systems

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Rising noncommunicable diseases and aging are exposing structural weaknesses in the world's largest public health system

Elderly people dance on a street during the International Day of Older Persons in Sao Paulo's Avenida Paulista October 1, 2013. REUTERS/Nacho Doce (BRAZIL - Tags: SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Singapore to Africa: AI Diagnostics for a Healthier Future

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Singapore's strengths can support Africa's push for faster, more equitable, and ultimately sovereign health systems

Cancer patients sit in a chemotherapy while receiving treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, in Accra, Ghana, on April 24, 2012.