The Economic Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases

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When it comes to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the impact on individual lives can be devastating. NCDs are diseases that are not infectious, such as mental health disorders, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. NCDs tend to be chronic conditions and are related to lifestyle. The medical world speaks about them in terms of treatments. The research world in terms of evidence-based facts or possible solutions. Policymakers focus on initiatives to manage the problem. Each lens offers its unique value. Another way to analyze the burden of non-communicable diseases is to look at it at the macroeconomic level.

In their study, Chen, Kuhn, Prettner, and Bloom (2018) point out that non-communicable diseases have globally replaced infectious diseases as the leading cause of death. In addition, NCDs are the leading cause of disabilities. All countries are equally affected no matter their economic strength. The authors provide interesting facts, such as 89% of death in the U.S. alone are caused by NCDs. This grouping of diseases negatively impacts a country’s productivity.

Disability prevents workers from functioning in their lives and taxes the healthcare and social systems of a country. This has rippling effects on people’s lives as well as the economy of a country. The authors point out that, “at the same time, disease related impairments, chronic pain, and mental health conditions tend to reduce worker productivity, increase absenteeism, and induce earlier retirement. Indeed, for some diseases, such as mental health conditions, the morbidity effect exerts a stronger economic impact than the mortality effect” (Chen, Kuhn, Prettner, and Bloom, 2018). Their study singles out mental health as especially devastating because it tends to impact working-age individuals and it has the greatest economic burden. Mental health is commonly paired with Opioid or Substance Use Disorders–a real health crisis in the U.S. The authors feel that the government should concentrate on mental health treatments if it is to improve the economic burden of non-communicable diseases.

Source

Chen, S., Kuhn, M., Prettner, K., & Bloom, D. E. (2018). The macroeconomic burden of noncommunicable diseases in the United States: Estimates and projections. Plos One, 13(11). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206702