This is reflected in the current high burdens, as well as the estimated escalation of those burdens over the next two decades. The current high burden of NCDs is highlighted by the estimates for 19983 that indicate these disorders contributed to 58.8% of global mortality and 43% of the global burden of disease, measured as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost. The contribution of low- and middle-income countries to this burden is large; about 77% of the total mortality and 85% of the total burden of disease attributable to NCDs arises from these countries (Table 1). Even within these regions, which are experiencing a double burden of pre-transitional and post-transitional diseases, NCDs contributed to 53.8% of total mortality and 39.8% of the total disease burden. Globally, the mortality attributable to NCDs from 1990 to 2020 is expected to rise from 55.5% to 72.6%, and NCD-related DALY loss from 34.7% to 59.8%

1.World Health Organization (WHO). The World Health Report. Geneva: WHO, 1999

2. Murray CJL, Lopez AD. Global Comparative Assessments in the Health Sector. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1994