Proactive prevention: Act now to disrupt the impending non-communicable disease crisis in low-burden populations

Abstract

Non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention efforts have traditionally targeted high-risk and high-burden populations. We propose an alteration in prevention efforts to also include emphasis and focus on low-risk populations, predominantly younger individuals and low-prevalence populations. We refer to this approach as “proactive prevention.” This emphasis is based on the priority to put in place policies, programs, and infrastructure that can disrupt the epidemiological transition to develop NCDs among these groups, thereby averting future NCD crises. Proactive prevention strategies can be classified, and their implementation prioritized, based on a 2-dimensional assessment: impact and feasibility. Thus, potential interventions can be categorized into a 2-by-2 matrix: high impact/high feasibility, high impact/low feasibility, low impact/high feasibility, and low impact/low feasibility. We propose that high impact/high feasibility interventions are ready to be implemented (act), while high impact/low feasibility interventions require efforts to foster buy-in first. Low impact/high feasibility interventions need to be changed to improve their impact while low impact/low feasibility might be best re-designed in the context of limited resources. Using this framework, policy makers, public health experts, and other stakeholders can more effectively prioritize and leverage limited resources in an effort to slow or prevent the evolving global NCD crisis.

The Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases: A Global Health Review of Challenges and Prevention Strategies

“…As the global community grapples with these hurdles, a commitment to innovative solutions, health equity, and collaborative action is essential to pave the way for a healthier future in the face of the rising tide of NCDs. Prevention Strategies: A Global Perspective Preventing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) has become an urgent global health imperative, given their rising prevalence and far-reaching impact (Njuguna et al,2020). This paper explores prevention strategies from a global perspective, addressing the multifaceted nature of NCDs and the need for comprehensive interventions that encompass lifestyle modifications, public health initiatives, and policy frameworks.…”