According to a study conducted by the United Nations in 2012, each year, more than 36 million deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This figure represents around 63% of all mortality worldwide. The NCD are: cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
The World Health Organization estimates that over 20 million deaths could be prevented each year by reducing the level of exposure to risk factors. The main risk factors to avoid are: tobacco and alcohol abuse, unhealthy diets and malnourishment or physical inactivity.
Source: United Nations, Population Ageing and Development: Population Ageing and the Non-communicable Diseases, April, 2012
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