Non-Communicable Diseases

Increasing prevalence worldwide due to:
Demographic transition (increased life expectancy and aging population)
Epidemiologic transition (decreased mortality from communicable diseases due to immunizations and antibiotics)
Nutrition transition (changes in dietary patterns and sedentary lifestyle)
Multifactorial nature of risk factors (difficult to determine causes and prevent)
Migration of population across different cultures (high risk cultures)
International communication (modernization, international business, and new food technologies)
Environmental changes (air pollution)
Different epidemiology of NCDs across countries (presence of well-developed surveillance systems)
Changing epidemiology over time (novel risk factors emerge)
Limited use of scientific progress in management of NCDs due to high cost (especially in developing countries)

NCDs morbidity:
Two-thirds are overweight
One-third are obese
40% are hypertensive
37% have high cholesterol levels
Risk factors for NCDs in Egypt:
Dietary pattern: 95% eat less than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day
Tobacco use: one-quarter are smoking
Sedentary life: three-quarters don't engage in vigorous activity or sports, and only one-third of adults perform low-level physical activity
Mortality from NCDs:
NCDs account for 82% of all deaths in Egypt and 67% of premature deaths (WHO 2022)
Risk factors for mortality from NCDs in Egypt:
24% prevalence of smoking and growing use of shisha tobacco
One of the most overweight populations in the world (66% of women overweight and 42% obese)
Almost three-quarters of the population not involved in vigorous activity
17% prevalence of diabetes
40% prevalence of hypertension
Egyptians have an average daily salt intake of 9 grams, nearly double the recommended allowance

Primordial prevention: health education
Primary prevention: health promotion and specific protection
Secondary prevention: early detection and treatment
Tertiary prevention: disability limitation and rehabilitation
Quaternary prevention: set of activities to mitigate or avoid the consequences of unnecessary intervention of health system

Establishment of an NCD Unit within the MoHP
Raising tobacco taxes and reducing salt and replacing trans fat in the Egyptian diet
Integrating NCD prevention, early detection, and management services to the primary health care level

Increasing prevalence worldwide due to:
Demographic transition (increased life expectancy and aging population)
Epidemiologic transition (decreased mortality from communicable diseases due to immunizations and antibiotics)
Nutrition transition (changes in dietary patterns and sedentary lifestyle)
Multifactorial nature of risk factors (difficult to determine causes and prevent)
Migration of population across different cultures (high risk cultures)
International communication (modernization, international business, and new food technologies)
Environmental changes (air pollution)
Different epidemiology of NCDs across countries (presence of well-developed surveillance systems)
Changing epidemiology over time (novel risk factors emerge)
Limited use of scientific progress in management of NCDs due to high cost (especially in developing countries)

NCDs morbidity:
Two-thirds are overweight
One-third are obese
40% are hypertensive
37% have high cholesterol levels
Risk factors for NCDs in Egypt:
Dietary pattern: 95% eat less than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day
Tobacco use: one-quarter are smoking
Sedentary life: three-quarters don't engage in vigorous activity or sports, and only one-third of adults perform low-level physical activity
Mortality from NCDs:
NCDs account for 82% of all deaths in Egypt and 67% of premature deaths (WHO 2022)
Risk factors for mortality from NCDs in Egypt:
24% prevalence of smoking and growing use of shisha tobacco
One of the most overweight populations in the world (66% of women overweight and 42% obese)
Almost three-quarters of the population not involved in vigorous activity
17% prevalence of diabetes
40% prevalence of hypertension
Egyptians have an average daily salt intake of 9 grams, nearly double the recommended allowance

Primordial prevention: health education
Primary prevention: health promotion and specific protection
Secondary prevention: early detection and treatment
Tertiary prevention: disability limitation and rehabilitation
Quaternary prevention: set of activities to mitigate or avoid the consequences of unnecessary intervention of health system

Establishment of an NCD Unit within the MoHP
Raising tobacco taxes and reducing salt and replacing trans fat in the Egyptian diet
Integrating NCD prevention, early detection, and management services to the primary health care level