Thursday Class: Chronic Disease Discussion

Overview

• Focus on chronic disease and its global impact.
• Class divided into four modules:
  • Understanding the determinants of health related to chronic diseases.
  • Exploring causes of chronic diseases leading to innovations and ethical issues in public health.

Global Importance of Chronic Diseases

• Chronic diseases have a significant impact globally.
• Comparison with communicable diseases discussed in previous lectures.

Leading Causes of Death Globally

• Top chronic diseases:
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • Stroke
  • COPD
• Communicable diseases:
  • Lower respiratory infections
  • Neonatal conditions
• Other chronic diseases: lung cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, kidney disease.

Trends from 2000 to 2019

• Chronic diseases are increasing in importance globally.
• Decrease in the importance of infectious diseases.
• Socioeconomic discrepancy:
  • High-income countries: Chronic diseases predominate.
  • Low-middle-income countries: Infectious diseases predominate but decreasing.

Chronic Diseases in High and Low-Middle Income Countries

• Chronic diseases remain a leading cause of death globally.
• Rise in importance in both developing and developed countries.
• Exceptions: Ischemic heart disease and stroke have seen slower growth in high-income countries.

Specific Country Data: Canada and USA

• Canada (2020):
  • Leading causes of death are chronic diseases.
  • Significant presence of COVID-19, influenza, and accidents.
• USA (2020-2022):
  • Chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer at the top.
  • COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in 2020, remaining in top 10 by 2022.

Summary

• Chronic diseases are a major cause of death globally and are increasing in importance.
• Shift from infectious to chronic diseases as countries develop economically.
• Upcoming modules will focus on risk factors for chronic diseases.

Next Steps

• Continue with modules focusing on risk factors for chronic diseases in subsequent lectures.