Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries in Latin America and the Caribbean: Time for Action:

Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries in Latin America and the Caribbean: Time for Action: "The great burden that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries have on low-income and middle-income countries is well recognized [1,2]. Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries as a group of middle-income countries are no exception to this neglected epidemic. In this Essay, we review the impact on public health of NCDs and injuries in LAC countries, as well as describe the regional particularities behind this epidemic. We discuss the reasons why LAC countries are in a privileged position to quickly translate investment in health research into practice. Finally, we describe possible research needs and the implications of this research for clinical practice and health policy in the region.
Epidemiological Profile of LAC Countries
LAC countries, with a combined population of about 533 million people, have been experiencing in the last decades a rapid, complex epidemiological transition. By 1990, NCDs and injuries had already accounted for 69% of deaths and 65% of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), a pattern still evident in 2000 (73% of deaths and 76% of DALYs). The largest impact on mortality was a result of cardiovascular disease, while for DALYs the greatest proportion was due to two neglected health problems: mental illness and injuries (Figures 1 and 2) [3]. This dominance of NCDs and injuries over infectious disease is expected to rise significantly by 2020, when the ratio of deaths from NCDs and injuries to deaths from infectious disease might increase from 2.2 to 8.1; likewise, a similar increase is expected to occur with the ratio of DALYs, increasing from 1.8 to 6.9 [3]." /.../