Most Countries Are Reducing Deaths from Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes

image via New Scientist

September 15, 2025, 2:45 PM

• •Death rates from chronic diseases declined in most countries between 2010 and 2019.
• •The pace of decline slowed compared to the previous decade.
• •Improvements linked to better treatments, prevention, and government restrictions on tobacco and alcohol.
• •Slowdown attributed to factors like underfunding and lack of focus on vulnerable populations.
• •Increase in neuropsychiatric conditions contributed to slower improvements in high-income countries.

A recent study published in The Lancet reveals that death rates from chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease decreased in a majority of countries between 2010 and 2019. The research, encompassing 185 countries, indicates that the probability of dying from non-communicable diseases before the age of 80 fell in numerous nations for both men and women. However, the rate of decline in the 2010s was slower compared to the previous decade, with experts citing factors like underfunding and a lack of focus on vulnerable populations as potential causes. The study emphasizes the need for accelerated funding and implementation of programs addressing neuropsychiatric conditions, along with continued efforts to improve treatments and prevention strategies.

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