Health Stats

Global

Elevated blood pressure levels claim more than 7 million lives each year. 1

Worldwide, there are approximately 246 million diabetics, the vast majority suffering from the type 2 form of the disease. By 2025, this number is expected to reach 380 million, representing 7.1% of the world’s adult population. 2

Obese individuals have a 20% greater risk of developing colorectal cancer compared with those of normal weight. 3

Giving up smoking can reduce the risk of dying from lung cancer by up to 70%. 4

17 million people are afflicted by stroke globally. 5

Intracerebral haemorrhage is one of the most serious forms of stroke, affecting 2-3 million people worldwide each year. 6

Improved malaria vaccine research co-ordination and investment decisions could save more than US$20 million over 5 years and prevent up to 3,000 unnecessary test vaccinations in African children. 7

1.2 million people are killed each year from road traffic injuries. 8

Low and middle-income countries suffer more than 80% of the global burden of cardiovascular disease. 9

There are 58 million deaths each year from chronic diseases. 10

In 2030, the leading causes of death across the world are projected to be11:

  • heart disease
  • stroke
  • HIV/AIDS
  • chronic obstructive lung disease.

In 2030:

  • Non-communicable diseases will contribute to almost 70% of all deaths.
  • There will be an estimated 40% increase in deaths due to injury.
  • Deaths due to tobacco are estimated to escalate to 8.3 million.

China

800 billion dollars lost in China and India due to heart disease. 12

With more than 100,000 road deaths per year, China accounts for around 15% of the world’s annual fatalities from traffic crashes. 13

Statistics from the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Diseases Study predict deaths from cardiovascular diseases in China are likely to rise to four million per year by 2020.

India

13% of adults aged 30 or above were found to have diabetes. 14

There are 2.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS in India.15

Cardiovascular diseases in India have claimed more than 250 lives per 100,000 deaths in the country. 16

Australia

Almost 2 million Australian adults have chronic kidney disease. 17

Chronic kidney disease is up to thirty times more common among Indigenous Australians than the Australian average. 18

One quarter of Australian fatal road injuries are in the age group 17 to 24 years. 21

Over 100,000 patients are treated in Australian and New Zealand intensive care units every year. 20

References

  1. Perkovic V, Huxley R, Wu Y, Prabhakaran P, MacMahon S. The burden of blood pressure-related disease: a neglected priority for global health. Hypertension. 2007;50:991-7.
  2. International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2006. Diabetes Atlas, 3rd Edition.
  3. Ansary-Moghaddam A, Woodward M, Huxley R. Obesity and risk of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of 31 studies with 70,000 events. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007;16:2533-47.
  4. Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration; Huxley R, Jamrozik K, Lam T, Barzi F, Ansary-Moghaddam A, Jiang C, Suh I, Woodward M. Impact of smoking cessation on mortality from lung cancer in the Asia-Pacific region. Am J Epidemiol. 2007;165:1280-6.
  5. World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2000 - Health systems: improving performance. Geneva: WHO, 2000.
  6. World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2000 - Health systems: improving performance. Geneva: WHO, 2000.
  7. Moran M, Guzman J, Ropars A, Jorgensen M, McDonald A, Potter S, Haile-Selassie H. The malaria product pipeline: planning for the future. The George Institute for International Health. Sydney, Australia, September 2007.
  8. World Health Organization. World report on road traffic injury prevention. Geneva: WHO, 2004.
  9. MacMahon S. Global inequalities in cardiovascular healthcare: our greatest challenge. Paul Dudley White International Lecture. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. Orlando, USA, November 2007.
  10. Preventing chronic diseases - a vital investment, WHO, Geneva, Swtzerland, 2005.
  11. World health statistics 2007. 3rd ed. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2007.
  12. Preventing chronic diseases - a vital investment, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland, 2005
  13. Chow C, Raju P, Raju R, Reddy K, Cardona M, Celermajer D, Neal B. The prevalence and management of diabetes in rural India. Diabetes Care. 2006;29;1717-8.
  14. World Health Organization. World report on road traffic injury prevention. Geneva: WHO, 2004.
  15. National Family Health Survey, India. Survey manual No. NFHS-3.
  16. WHO
  17. Howard K, Salkeld G, White S, Chadban S, Craig J, McDonald S, Perkovic V, Cass A. The cost-effectiveness of early detection and intervention to prevent the progression of chronic kidney disease in Australia. Kidney Health Australia, Melbourne, Australia, October 2006.
  18. Cass A, Cunningham J, Wang Z, Hoy W. Regional variation in the incidence of end-stage renal disease in Indigenous Australians. Med J Aust. 2001;175:24-7.
  19. Harrison JE, Berry JG. Serious injury due to transport accidents, Australia, 2003-04. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare & Australian Transport Safety Bureau, 2007. AIHW catalogue No. INJCAT 101.
  20. Higlett T, Bishop N, Hart GK, Hicks P. Review of intensive care resources and activity 2002/2003. Melbourne: Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society, 2005.