WHO European Region unveils new tool to fight non-communicable diseases

Noncommunicable diseases are by far the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the WHO European Region, accounting for over 90% of deaths. The WHO European Region, through its European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, has developed a new dashboard gathering key data on the prevalence and trends of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the 53 countries of the region. It also includes risk factors as well as appropriate and advanced measures in achieving the objectives set in this area[1].

This dashboard includes standardized data from national and international registries and surveys collected by countries, WHO, and other international organizations. As an interactive and publicly accessible platform, it will facilitate cross-country comparisons and the assessment of progress towards target 3.4 of the sustainable development goals established in 2015. This objective is to reduce by one third by 2030, through prevention and treatment, the rate of premature mortality due to non-communicable diseases and to promote mental health and well-being.

A tool set up to better target areas of intervention in the fight against NCDs

The dashboard can be used to track implementation levels of recommended policies, identify priority interventions, and determine trends. It can also raise awareness among public health professionals and policymakers about the most pressing issues in the field of NCD prevention and control.

This dashboard displays seven charts that summarize the latest data available to WHO for each of the 53 countries in the European Region. These charts visualize four main groups of indicators:

- Premature mortality linked to NCDs in a given country;

- Biological risk factors (prevalence of overweight/obesity and hypertension);

- Behavioral risk factors (smoking and level of alcohol consumption);

- Indicators for monitoring progress (implementation of measures recommended by WHO to combat NCDs).

The burden of non-communicable diseases in the European region

Of the six WHO regions, the European Region is the most affected by morbidity and mortality from noncommunicable diseases. Their growth is worrying. Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, the four leading NCDs, are the leading causes of morbidity, disability, and mortality in the region, accounting for nearly 90% of all deaths and 67% of premature deaths.

Many NCDs are largely preventable, or their onset can be delayed. WHO estimates that at least 80% of all heart disease, stroke, and diabetes cases, and 40% of cancer cases could be prevented if the main risk factors for NCDs (smoking, alcohol, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, etc.) were addressed. Globally, the WHO European Region has the highest prevalence of smoking among adults (29%, 30%), including one of the highest smoking prevalence rates among women (19%, 30%).[2]WHO estimated that the proportion of NCD deaths attributable to tobacco use in Europe was 18%, meaning that one in six premature NCD deaths could be prevented by eliminating tobacco use in the region.[3]

Keywords: WHO, Non-communicable diseases, NCDs, smoking, Europe, Euro region

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