The Association between Applied Health Policies and Probability of Premature Death in Bulgaria

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are estimated to account for 94% of all deaths in Bulgaria. The duty of a national health system is to implement health policies for reducing the negative consequences of premature death (between the ages of 30-70) due to NCDs for public health. Analyzing the association between the number of health policies applied in response to NCDs and the likelihood of premature death in Bulgaria involved assessing the situation in Bulgaria compared with other member states of the European Union (EU). Between October and December 2015, a comprehensive search of the literature on the subject of the study was conducted. Data were processed statistically and illustrated with tables and graphs. For 2014, the probability of premature death from NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic lung diseases, or diabetes) in Bulgaria was 24%; this was the highest level of any EU country. Bulgaria has the lowest number of applied health policies (two) in comparison with other EU member states (i.e., nine in Lithuania). They are only related to evidence-based national guidelines, protocols, and standards for managing major NCDs using a primary care approach and a national, population-based cancer registry. Implementing effective health policies in Bulgaria is essential for improving public health and reducing the probability of premature death in the country.