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Mortality Rate Down 8% in Past Decade

Although (CVDs) are still the number one cause of mortality in the country, there is a perceptible decline in CVD deaths in the past decade.
Although (CVDs) are still the number one cause of mortality in the country, there is a perceptible decline in CVD deaths in the past decade.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases (33%), stroke (9.4%) and cancers (8%) have been the top major killers in the country during the past decade.

Although cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are still the number one cause of mortality in the country, there is a perceptible decline in CVD deaths in the past decade.

Between the years 2006 and 2015, the mortality rate from CVDs decreased by 13%, with its share dropping from 46% of all registered deaths in 2006 to 33% in 2015, according to a study conducted by the Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Furthermore, the total number of deaths overall decreased from 408,566 in 2006 to 374,827 in 2015, indicating that during the 10-year period, the mortality rate decreased by 8% in the country, as life expectancy increased.

Data from the National Organization for Civil Registration (NOCR) shows that during the first nine months of the current year that ends in March, more than 279,526 deaths were registered.

“The figure has decreased by 1.5% compared to the same period last year,” Seifollah Aboutorabi, spokesman of the NOCR was quoted by IRNA as saying.

Provinces of Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, Gilan and East Azarbaijan had the highest rate of deaths recorded and Alborz, Kohgiluyeh-Boyer Ahmad and Bushehr, the lowest.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says an estimated 17.5 million people died from CVDs in 2012, representing 31% of all global deaths. More than 80% occurred in the low and middle income countries. The main risk factors for CVDs are obesity, insufficient physical activity, and tobacco use.

Seifollah Abdi, scientific secretary of the 10th International Conference on Cardiology (January 13-14) underway at Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical & Research Center in Tehran, says “CVDs usually appear in Iranians in their fifties.”

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type which can lead to complications such as cardiac arrest, heart failure and death. “CAD happens when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed. This is due to the buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on their inner walls.”

  Prevention and Control of NCDs

Iran is among the top 10 countries in implementing measures to prevent and control NCDs.

The National Document in Prevention and Control of NCDs unveiled in July 2015 took effect in February 2016.

The document is projected to reduce deaths from NCDs by 25% within ten years, and its execution will be assessed by the WHO over the next two years.

The national document pursues 13 objectives of which reducing trans fatty acids, road accident deaths, addiction and mental health are regarded as top priorities.

The WHO had earlier developed a global monitoring framework to enable tracking of progress in preventing and controlling the four major NCDs - cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases and diabetes - and their key risk factors.

The framework comprises nine global targets and 25 indicators. It also targets a 25% reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2025.

Currently, the likelihood of premature mortality from the four main NCDs between ages 30 and 70 years is 17% in Iran.

According to the Health Ministry, some of the successful measures taken in line with curtailing NCDs over the last two years are: increasing access to medicines across the country, connecting rural and urban healthcare networks, and imposing tobacco taxes (imported, locally produced, and joint ventures). “Salt and sodium use is planned to be reduced by 30% by 2025, and half of the projected target (15%) must be achieved by 2018,” says Rasoul Dinarvand, head of the Food and Drug Administration. The amount of trans fats would be reduced to zero by 2025.

“If people use hydrogenated oils more than four to five times a week, they will develop cardiovascular diseases in their second or third decade of life,” he warned.

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