Mortality and burden of non-communicable diseases in China

Abstract

Objective To assess the leading causes of death and disability adjusted life year (DALY) due to non-communicable disease (NCD) in China. Methods World Health Report 2004 published by the World Health Organization (WHO) was reviewed, including total deaths, deaths per 100 000, age-standardized death rate per 100 000, total DALYs, DALYs per 100 000 and age-standardized DALYs per 100 000 by cause and by member state. Diseases or injuries were assigned to three levels: communicable diseases, NCD and injuries (the first level); categories of disease or injure (the second level); specific diseases (the third level). R2.15 was used for data analysis. Results NCD causes 737.6 million deaths, 141million total DALY years, 627 age standardized mortality per 100 000, and 10 829 age-standardized DALYs per 100 000. NCD account for 79.4% and 70.3% total death or all-cause DALYs. Conclusions Cardiovascular disease, malignant neoplasm and respiratory disease were the leading causes of death, while neuropsychiatric disorder, cardiovascular disease and sense organ disease were the most important causes of DALYs. Among China, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea and India, China ranked second in age-standardized mortality rate of chronic disease. DALYs of esophagus cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were 6 or 2 times of world average level. Besides, the increasing trend in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus remains impressive. Key words: Global burden of disease; Non-communicable disease; Disability adjusted life year; Age-standard death rate