Non-communicable Diseases in Afghanistan
Of the 57 million global deaths in 2008, 63%
were due to NCDs. As the impact of NCDs increases, and as the population age,
annual NCDs deaths are projected to continue to rise worldwide, and the
greatest increase is expected to occur in low and middle income countries. It
is assumed that NCDs affect mostly high income population, while the evidence
tells a very different story. Nearly 80% of NCDs deaths occur in low and middle
income countries. The demographic and epidemiological transitions in South Asia
are resulting in an increasing share of the diseases burden related to NCDs.
Over half of the disease burden in South Asia is attributed to NCDs. This
proportion is expected to rise significantly.
The current data shows that the burden of NCDs is
escalating in Afghanistan. They are the cause of more than 35% mortality, as
indicated in Afghanistan Mortality Survey (AMS) 2010. The major contributor
includes Cardiovascular Diseases (Female 17.9% Male 14%), Cancer (Female 8.3%
Male 7.3%), Diabetes Mellitus (Female 2.7% Male 3.7), and Respiratory Disease (female
2.3% Male 1.9%). Among female, the
leading causes of death are infectious/parasitic and Cardiovascular disease
(18% each) followed by respiratory infections (15%). NCDs share common
preventable and modifiable risk factors like tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical
inactivity, and harmful use of Alcohol.
Risk Factors for NCDs
Tobacco
use is a major risk factor for NCDs. It is the only product in the world that
kills half of its users. Almost 6 million people die from direct and passive smoking
each year. By 2020, this number will increase to 7.5 million, accounting for 10%
of all deaths. If current trends continue, tobacco will kill nearly 8 million
people every year throughout the period leading to 2030. Smoking is estimated
to cause 71% of lung cancer, 42% of chronic respiratory disease and nearly 10%
of cardiovascular diseases. The highest incidence of smoking among men is in
low-middle income countries.
In
Afghanistan data on smoking and its effects on health is limited. However, the
Global Youth Tobacco Survey of 2010 indicates that more than 16% of youths have
ever tried or experimented smoking, 90 % of them tried a cigarette in the age
of 13 years, 17% of children have been affected by passive smoking, 21 % of
students said that most of their closest friends smoke cigarettes, 18 % of
students think that passive smoking is not harmful. In addition, a recent study
conducted in Kabul indicates that the prevalence of cigarette smoking among men
aged 15 years and older is estimated to be 35.2%. Study findings show that 46%
of respondents were smoking in some point in their life. Totally 85.4% (35.2%
currently smokers and 50.2% passive smokers) of respondents were somehow
exposed to cigarettes smoke. Study findings indicates that those who grew up in
a family where family members were smoking, are more likely to smoke compared
to those respondents whose family members were not smoking.
Globally, approximately 3.2 million people die each
year due to physical inactivity. People who are insufficiently physically
active have a 20-30% increased risk of all cause mortality. Moreover, nearly
2.3 million die from the harmful use of Alcohol. Unfortunately almost no data
is available on these risk factors in Afghanistan.
|
Total population
|
29,117,000
|
|
Smoking prevalence in
Age 15 years and above %
|
35
|
|
Passive smoking prevalence
%
|
50
|
|
Causes
of Deaths (AMS 2010)
|
|
|
Communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional condition
(2010) %
|
Female
52.8 -- Male 42.6
|
|
Non-communicable
Disease (2010) %
|
Female
37.5 -- Male 33.3
|
|
Cancer
(2010) %
|
Female
8.4 -- Male 7.3
|
|
Cardiovascular
Diseases (2010) %
|
Female
17.5 -- Male 14
|
|
Injuries
(2010) %
|
Female
6.7 -- Male 20.8
|
|
|
|
