New WHO report: deaths from noncommunicable diseases on the rise, with developing world hit hardest

April 27, 2011

Noncommunicable diseases are the leading killer today and are on the increase, the first WHO Global status report on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) launched today confirms. In 2008¹, 36.1 million people died from conditions such as heart disease, strokes, chronic lung diseases, cancers and diabetes. Nearly 80% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.  (World Health Organization)