Most deaths worldwide are due to the onset of so-called “noncommunicable diseases” (NCDs). However, mortality patterns vary according to the income level of countries: in low-income nations, communicable diseases remain the leading causes of death.
In addition, there is a worrying gender gap in mortality and disability rates from noncommunicable diseases in the Americas. “Men experienced consistently higher rates of death and disability than women due to a higher burden of cardiovascular diseases and cancers, as well as high rates of interpersonal violence,” explained Dr. Anselm Hennis, Director of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at PAHO.
The 10 most common causes of death in the world
- Ischemic heart disease
- COVID-19
- Stroke
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Lower respiratory infections
- Tracheal, bronchus and lung cancer
- Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
- Diabetes mellitus
- Kidney diseases
- Tuberculosis
It is important to maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and avoid tobacco and alcohol consumption to prevent the onset of these diseases. When it comes to COVID and respiratory diseases, it is essential to be vaccinated.
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Increased life Expectancy
Despite the fact that more and more people are living with chronic non-communicable diseases, life expectancy continues to rise. In fact, it is ageing that is to blame for this paradigm shift in terms of diseases.
“NCDs and their external causes remain a major challenge, not only for health systems, but also for the social and economic development of the Americas,” said Dr. Hennis.
Knowing the causes of death is essential to improving public health and evaluating the effectiveness of our health systems, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
