Global confluence of infectious and non-communicable diseases -- the case of type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Globally the prevalence and public health importance of non-communicable diseases (NCD) is increasing in high-, middle-, and low-income countries alike. Concomitant to the NCD burden, control of key infectious diseases (i.e., group B Streptococcus, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and HIV) in most regions of the world remains elusive. With new epidemiologic trends in disease burden, the allocation of resources and expertise to simultaneously control infectious diseases and NCD becomes increasingly difficult. Using the case of diabetes and three co-occurring infectious diseases, we demonstrate the importance of generating innovative strategies to attack the old (infectious diseases) and new (NCD) disease agendas together.

Keywords: Communicable diseases; Diabetes mellitus; Group B Streptococcus; HIV; Tuberculosis.