Non-communicable disease (NCD) is a type of disease that cannot be passed from person to person through any form of contact. However, some types of non-communicable diseases have a fairly high mortality rate.
The death rate from non-communicable diseases is quite high. Based on data from the WHO in 2018, it is estimated that around 41 million people die from non-communicable diseases every year. The data shows that almost 71% of deaths worldwide are caused by non-communicable diseases.
Based on data released by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, it is estimated that at least 1.4 million people die each year due to non-communicable diseases. Most non-communicable diseases are chronic (chronic disease).
Find out more about non-communicable diseases and their risk factors
There are several factors that can increase the risk of non-communicable diseases, including genetic or hereditary factors, advanced age, and environmental factors, such as pollution.
In addition, non-communicable diseases are also more at risk for people who have an unhealthy lifestyle, for example:
- Lack of exercise
- Smoking habit
- Alcohol consumption
- Unhealthy eating patterns, such as the habit of eating fast food, foods high in cholesterol, salt and sugar, and consuming less vegetables and fruit
6 Types of Non-Communicable Diseases with High Mortality Rates
Non-communicable diseases (PTM) can attack all organs of the body. Therefore, there are many types of non-communicable diseases that can occur.
However, of the many types of non-communicable diseases, there are several diseases that have a high risk of causing death, namely:
1. Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease is a group of diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Heart and blood vessel disease is a category of chronic disease that causes the number one cause of death in the world. The emergence of this disease is closely related to high blood pressure, obesity, and atherosclerosis.
Cardiovascular disease consists of several types and most of these diseases endanger the lives of sufferers. The types of cardiovascular disease that most often occur and cause many deaths are heart attacks, coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure.
2. Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic non-communicable disease characterized by high blood sugar levels. Diabetes can be caused by heredity and unhealthy lifestyles, such as infrequent exercise, and frequent consumption of high-sugar and fatty foods.
Uncontrolled diabetes can cause organ damage and various dangerous complications, such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, severe infections, diabetic ketoacidosis, and diabetes. hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS).
3. Cancer
Cancer is a non-communicable disease with the second highest mortality rate after heart and blood vessel disease.
In Indonesia, the types of cancer that cause the most deaths in men are lung cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer, while in women, the types of cancer that cause the most deaths are breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer.
4. Chronic respiratory disorders
Chronic respiratory disorders are one of the non-communicable diseases that still occur in Indonesia. This disease most often occurs due to smoking habits, exposure to cigarette smoke, or frequent inhalation of polluted dirty air.
Some types of non-communicable diseases that attack the respiratory tract include:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Asthma
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Occupational lung disease, for example, inhaling toxic gases or hazardous substances in the workplace
If not treated, the above diseases can cause severe respiratory problems that can lead to respiratory failure. This has a high potential to cause death.
5. Kidney disease
There are several types of kidney disease. Two of the most common causes of death are chronic kidney disease and acute kidney failure. WHO estimates that about 5–10 million people die from kidney disease worldwide each year.
Many people with kidney disease require lifelong treatment. One of them is undergoing dialysis or hemodialysis. If not treated properly, kidney disease can cause permanent kidney damage which is at high risk of death.
6. Mental disorders
Mental disorders are one of the non-communicable diseases that are often considered not serious. This is because there are still many people who do not understand or even stigmatize mental health problems.
According to WHO, the death rate from mental disorders is quite high. It is estimated that at least 8.6 million people with mental disorders die every year worldwide.
Of the many types of mental disorders that exist, some of the most common causes of premature death are major depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Most of the causes of death in people with mental disorders are suicide and drug abuse.
In addition to the diseases mentioned above, transportation accidents and work-related accidents are also medical conditions that cause many deaths. Data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health states that transportation accidents and work-related accidents are among the top 10 causes of death nationally.
Some people suffer from non-communicable diseases due to heredity. Therefore, if you have a family who has certain diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, then you are advised to consult a doctor.
Non-communicable diseases cannot be completely prevented. However, your risk of getting this disease can be reduced by avoiding the risk factors, namely through the application of a healthy lifestyle. One of them is by exercising regularly or undergoing physical activity.
In addition, routine health checks are also important. The goal is to detect non-communicable diseases as early as possible so that doctors can determine the appropriate treatment steps to overcome these diseases.