Burgeoning burden of non-communicable diseases in Nepal: a scoping review

Abstract

In the last decades, prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has escalated in Nepal. This study reviews existing evidence on the burden of non-communicable diseases in Nepal using the framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley for scoping reviews. A total of 110 articles were identified from database searches, and four from additional searches. The titles and abstracts were reviewed using predetermined screening criteria. We limited our search to existing literature in English language and included all studies regardless of year of study. Both observational and interventional studies were included. Studies conducted outside Nepal and studies not reporting prevalence of NCDs were excluded. Additionally, we searched reference lists of included publications. All previous reports of Step Wise Surveillance to NCDs (STEPS Surveys) were included in the review. Finally, a total of 60 articles were included in this review. Limited studies on population-based prevalence of mental illness, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and road traffic accidents were found. There were limitations in the studies related to generalizability due to small sample sizes, non-random sampling and lack of studies from certain region of country. Nevertheless, high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was found. Similarly, hospital-based studies reported high burden of cardiovascular diseases among outpatient contacts. Population-based cancer registries do not exist in Nepal. However, existing studies report 8,000-10,000 cancer deaths annually in Nepal. The most common cancer site in males was the lung, followed by the oral cavity and gastric, while the first three in females were cervix uteri, breast and lung. Prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was also high. Despite alarming burden of NCDs, the country’s response is weak. Nepal needs to build non-communicable disease programmes with focus on disease prevention and management as well as awareness activities in urban and rural settings at community level.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12992-015-0119-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors in a sub-urban area of central Nepal

“…5 When it comes to Nepal, the prevalence of hypertension in various parts varies between studies which ranged between 3.3% and 44.9%. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Furthermore a repeat cross sectional study done in a rural Kathmandu revealed that prevalence of hypertension tripled from 6% in 1980 to 18% in 2006. 12 This figure indicates that the there is burgeoning burden of hypertension in Nepal.…”

Adherence to medications among Nepali hypertensive population: A hospital-based cross-sectional study

“…Non-communicable diseases are sweeping with an increasing trend in Nepal and hypertension is one of the most prevalent noncommunicable diseases [10]. Till now, we have not found any study has been conducted to identify the associated factors of non-adherence with the anti-hypertensive medication in Nepal.…”

Reflections on the challenges and opportunities for palliative care in Nepal

“…29 As a result, there is a rapidly increasing incidence of multi-morbidity and complex medical issues associated with increasing NCDs in an aging population. 30 In industrialized countries, geriatrics and palliative care have developed as separate specialties. However, for low-and middle-income countries, this may not be a replicable model due to limitations in health resources.…”