The theme of this year’s World Health Day is healthy ageing. With data showing that the major causes of premature death and years lost to disability in people aged 60 years and over are non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the NCD Alliance* says that dropping key targets on NCDs will put the health of the world’s ageing population at risk.

Data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that the major causes of premature death and years lost to disability in older people in both high-income countries (HIC) and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are NCDs such as heart disease, cancers, diabetes, stroke, dementia, visual disorders and chronic respiratory disease. Furthermore, NCDs are the leading cause of death in the world, causing 60% of all deaths. In HIC, up to 90% of deaths are caused by NCDs, while in most LMICs, NCDs are also the leading cause of death.

2012 World Health Day NCD Alliance Press Release.pdf