Cohort Profile: The Zahedan Adult Cohort Study (ZACS)-a prospective study of non-communicable diseases in Sistani and Baluch populations.

Abstract

... Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) reports, in 2016, NCDs account for 71% (41 million) of global deaths. Four common NCDs, including cardiovascular disease (17.9 million deaths), cancer (9.0 million deaths), chronic respiratory disease (3.8 million deaths) and diabetes (1.6 million deaths), are the leading cause of death.1 Notably, most deaths from NCDs and 85% of the 15 million premature deaths occurred in individuals between ages 30 and 70 in low- and middle-income countries.2 Although premature avertable deaths from NCD have declined worldwide, the absolute number of preventable deaths from NCD has increased recently. Importantly, cardiovascular disease, cancers and chronic respiratory disease have been the main drivers of reducing premature avertable mortality from NCDs.3 Moreover, evidence shows that premature mortality among drug users, chronic kidney disease, acute glomerulonephritis and diabetes increases. More importantly, most premature avertable mortality from NCDs occurred in low- and middle-income countries, including the Eastern Mediterranean region.3 Modifiable risk factors, such as smoking, alcohol use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, increase NCD risk. Additionally, non-modifiable risk factors, such as gender, age and poverty level, also affect the risk of NCDs.4