COVID-19: A call to address non-communicable diseases

The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 has tested China and the whole world to respond rapidly and effectively to the outbreak. It has also put a strain on health systems around the world, including here in China.

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has sickened over 81,000 people and taken more than 3,300 lives in China as of 1 April of 2020. Although everyone is susceptible to COVID-19, older people and people with pre-existing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.[i]

Additionally, data from China CDC confirmed that case-fatality rate (CFR) for COVID-19 in China is so far more elevated among patients with pre-existing conditions from NCDs - 10.5% for cardiovascular disease, 7.3% for diabetes, 6.3% for chronic respiratory disease, 6.0% for hypertension, and 5.6% for cancer (compared to an overall CFR of 2.3%).[ii]

Heart disease and stroke, cancer, chronic lung disease, and diabetes already cause 88% of deaths in China. Now, a person suffering from any of these NCDs is more likely to die if they catch COVID-19.

The main risk factors of NCD are: tobacco use, alcohol use, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet. These are all preventable behaviours.

COVID-19 reminds us that our health cannot be taken for granted.

Washing hands, social distancing, and practicing respiratory etiquette are urgent actions that we all should take as a response to COVID-19. At the same time, the mortality of COVID-19 due to co-morbidity with NCDs should ring a loud alarm to all of us that good health is a life-long activity. Let’s start today by quitting tobacco, adopting healthy diets, limiting or avoiding alcohol intake, exercising more, and nurturing our mental well-being.

A health crisis like this also reminds us that we all have a role to play in maintaining better health – it takes the long-term commitment from the government and participation from across society.

China’s efforts in controlling and containing COVID-19 has proved this point. The whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach combined changed the trajectory of the outbreak in China.

China can also implement this approach to turn the tide on NCDs, so that personal pursuit of health is supported and empowered by an enabling social environment.

Before COVID-19, tackling NCDs and their risk factors were already included as a focus of Healthy China 2030, with actions specifically dedicated to tobacco control, reduction of salt intake, promoting exercise, among others. Take tobacco as an example - China vows to decrease adult smoking prevalence from the current 26.6% to 20% in the next 10 years, and asks individuals, families, the whole society, and all government entities to take part in this endeavour to attain the target.

There’s more to be done to strengthen NCD prevention and reducing preventable deaths from NCDs and from future outbreaks. That includes full implementation of WHO technical packages addressing the key risk factors with a supportive enabling environment for all.

Health For All Policies, now more than ever, can no longer be a vision, but an actionable, proven strategy we use today to fight public health crises and improve public health.

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