Okuzeka
Public Health & Epidemiology vocabulary · Global Health and Health Systems

Noncommunicable disease

Meaning in public health & epidemiology, with examples

nounCore term

In public health & epidemiology, noncommunicable disease means: A long-lasting illness that is not passed from person to person, such as heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease or diabetes.

In Turkish: bulaşıcı olmayan hastalık, kronik hastalık

How it is used

Usually shortened to NCD. NCDs cause most deaths worldwide, and WHO names their main risk factors as tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, with air pollution often added. Also spelled non-communicable.

Example sentences

  1. Noncommunicable diseases now account for most deaths in middle-income countries.

  2. The plan sets targets for reducing premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases.

Common collocations

  • NCD prevention
  • burden of noncommunicable diseases
  • premature deaths from NCDs
  • NCD risk factors
  • communicable diseaseAn illness caused by a microorganism, such as a virus, bacterium or parasite, that can pass from one person or animal to another.
  • risk factorA characteristic, behaviour or exposure that increases the chance of developing a disease or health problem, such as smoking, high blood pressure or poor housing.
  • tobacco controlThe set of policies and programmes that aim to reduce tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke, such as taxes, smoke-free laws, warning labels and support to quit.
  • burden of diseaseThe total impact of a disease or health problem on a population, measured by deaths, illness, disability and sometimes economic cost.

More terms: Global Health and Health Systems

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.