J Prev Med Public Health.  2013 Jul;46(4):155-164.

Burden of Noncommunicable Diseases and National Strategies to Control Them in Korea

• Khang YH

Abstract

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the most important causes of premature mortality and disability-adjusted life years in Korea. NCDs are also the main contributor to socioeconomic inequalities in mortality and life expectancy. Reduction of NCDs and NCD inequalities would result in significant improvement in healthy life expectancy and health equity in Korea. Major NCD risk factors such as dietary risks (including salt intake), alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and high blood pressure were found to be the leading modifiable risk factors of disability-adjusted life years in Korea, based on the 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study. Several Korean studies have shown that these risk factors play an important role in creating socioeconomic inequalities in NCD mortality and total mortality. Current international discussions on NCD policies in the United Nations and the World Health Organization would provide better opportunities for developing aggressive population-wide policy measures in Korea. Considering the paucity of population-wide policies to control major NCD risk factors in Korea, rigorous population approaches such as taxation and regulation of unhealthy commodities as well as public education and mass campaigns should be further developed in Korea.

Keyword

Alcohol drinking; Diet; Korea; Noncommunicable disease; Policy; Smoking

MeSH Terms

Alcohol Drinking/epidemiology
Cause of Death
Chronic Disease/*epidemiology
Cost of Illness
Diet
Disabled Persons
Female
Health Policy
Humans
Life Expectancy
Life Style
Male
Mortality, Premature
Republic of Korea
Risk Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
World Health Organization