Global and Regional Patterns in Noncommunicable Diseases and Dietary Factors across National Income Levels

Abstract

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading global cause of death and share common risk factors. Little quantitative data are available on the patterns of each NCDs death and dietary factors by national income level and region. We aimed to identify the trend of NCDs deaths and dietary factors with other health-related behaviors across national income levels and geographical regions.

Methods: Three databases were collected, including the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and World Bank in 2014. These were analyzed to describe the trend for NCDs deaths and dietary factors with health-related behaviors across national income levels (high income, upper-middle income, lower-middle income, and low income) from 151 countries using variance-weighted least-squares linear regression.

Results: Lower-middle-income and low-income countries in Africa and Asia had higher death rates of NCDs. More than 30% of the population had raised blood pressure with higher carbohydrate intake and lower protein and fat intake compared to high-income European countries in 2014. High-income countries had the highest prevalence of raised total cholesterol, overweight, and obesity, the highest total energy, fat, and protein intake, and the highest supplies of animal fat, stimulants, sugar and sweetener, vegetable oil, and milk, as well as insufficient activity with an increasing trend (p for trend < 0.001).

Conclusion: There were differences in NCDs risk factors and dietary factors by national income and region. Accordingly, measures should be taken to suit the situation in each country. Our findings have significance for health workers and health policies preventing and controlling the rise of NCDs.

Keywords: deaths; dietary factors; metabolic risk factors; national income levels; noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

Figure 1

The flow diagram of selection between countries.

Figure 2

Worldwide distribution of income level and raised blood pressure, Systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 or Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 (%, age standardized, both genders).

Figure 3

Distribution of income level and NCD deaths (all NCDs and CVDs, per 100,000).

Figure 3

Distribution of income level and NCD deaths (all NCDs and CVDs, per 100,000).

Figure 4

Energy proportion of carbohydrates, protein, and fat for each country (%).

Figure 4

Energy proportion of carbohydrates, protein, and fat for each country (%).

Figure 5

Relative comparison of high- and low-income countries in metabolic risk factors, mortality, and health-related behavior, energy intake, and food supply.