This is a statement made at the 148th session of the WHO Executive Board on Agenda item 6: Draft Decision on Addressing Diabetes as a Public Health Concern by the International Diabetes Federation, supported by the Global Coalition for Circulatory Health and the NCD Alliance.
Honorable chair, distinguished delegates,
This statement is delivered on behalf of the International Diabetes Federation, the International Society of Nephrology, the World Heart Federation, the World Stroke Organization and the NCD Alliance.
Circulatory diseases are the world’s number one cause of disability and mortality. Every year, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and stroke are responsible for more than 20 million deaths and 374 million years of life lost. In 2016, their global burden (in DALYs) amounted to almost half a billion years.[1]
The number of people living with diabetes has tripled over the last 20 years[2]. Diabetes-related mortality is on the rise in low, middle and high-income countries. Since 2000, the number of diabetes-related deaths has increased by 70% and, between 2000 and 2016, the probability of dying prematurely (30-70 years) from diabetes increased by 5%[3]
The prevalence of cardiovascular multimorbidity has steadily increased over the past 20 years. With an ageing global population, the risks of cardiovascular diseases and additional comorbidities will increase further. Efforts to prevent and control diabetes can have a positive impact in protecting circulatory health, since adults living with the condition are up to four times more likely to die from heart diseases[4], and, in up to 40% of cases, eventually suffer kidney failure[5]
The Global Coalition for Circulatory Health urges Member States to approve the Draft Decision on Addressing Diabetes as a Public Health Concern and develop a draft Resolution on strengthening the efforts to address diabetes as a public health concern as part of universal health coverage, for consideration by the 74th World Health Assembly.
[1] Driving Sustainable Action for Circulatory Health. White Paper for Circulatory Health.
[2] IDF Diabetes Atlas. Ninth edition 2019.
[3] WHO: The top 10 leading causes of death. 9 December 2020.
[4] Driving Sustainable Action for Circulatory Health. White Paper for Circulatory Health.
