Editorial: Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases: What can be done?

This issue of AIM focuses on studies from Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute. This institute is a pioneer of Research on lifestyle modification for prevention of cardio vascular disease (CVD) in middle-east. During the last few decades, most developing countries have witnessed noticeable improvements in general health. Infectious diseases, formerly the prime reason for mortality, are becoming Less common leading to significant improvements in various health indexes such as infant mortality rate and life expectancy. The life expectancy at birth in Iran has rose to above 73 years in 2010. With the relative control of infectious disease, non-communicable diseases (NCD) are gaining more and more importance as the major cause of decreased life expectancy. NCD already account for over 70% of the mortality observed in Iran and many other lowand middle-income countries (Table 1). Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular disease (myocardial infarction and stroke) by far constitute the most common cause of NCD mortality.3 In this issue of AIM, Talaei, et al. report the cardio-vascular mortality rate observed during 32,893 person-years of follow-up in Isfahan Cohort Study. They observed a CVD mortality rate of 331 per 100,000 person-years in men and 203 in women which is alarmingly high. Similarly high rates have been reported from many other countries, whether developed or not, low- or high-income, western or eastern. The UN has recognized the threat of NCD for social and economic development as an urgent matter requiring long-term health planning throughout the world. Unfortunately in our country too, as many other low- and middle-income countries, NCD has not received the attention it deserves.