Facing the noncommunicable disease (NCD) global epidemic – The battle of prevention starts in utero – The FIGO challenge

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 36 million deaths every year. Of this death toll, nearly 80% (29 million) occur in low- and median-income countries. More than 9 million deaths attributed to NCDs occur in people under 60 years of age. National economies are suffering considerable losses due to premature death or disability to work resulting from heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.The knowledge that in utero and in early childhood certain processes can affect the risk of developing NCDs provides an opportunity to enforce interventions during this critical time, when they may have the greatest effect.

Source: Best Practice and Research. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology - August 20, 2014 Category: OBGYN Authors: Lluis Cabero Roura, Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran Tags: 1 Source Type: research