Noncommunicable disease deaths in the Americas have risen 43% since 2000, PAHO report shows – PAHO/WHO

Washington, DC, July 2, 2025 (PAHO) – Deaths due to non -communicable diseases (ENT), such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, have increased by 43% in the Americas since 2000, reaching 6 million in 2021, according to the American Pan Health Organization (PAHO) NCDS at a look 2025 Report, published today.

Non -communicable diseases are the main cause of death, which represent 65% of all deaths in the region (9.2 million), with almost 40% before the age of 70. While population aging and growth contribute to this load, the increase is largely driven by modifiable risk factors such as the use of Tobacco, the unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful alcohol.

According to the report, cardiovascular diseases led with 2.16 million deaths, followed by cancer (1.37 million), diabetes (more than 420,000) and chronic respiratory conditions (more than 416,000). Suicide, the fourth main cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29, charged 100,760 lives.

«The increase in NCD deaths is an urgent attention call,» said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of Paho. «Too many people are dying prematurely for diseases that are largely preventable and treatable. With early detection, timely diagnosis, access to attention and strong policies, we can save lives. This report provides countries with the countries the tools they need to act.»

Risk factors that increase rapidly

In 2022, obesity affected 33.8% of adults, a 28% increase since 2010, while physical inactivity increased to 35.6%. The prevalence of diabetes reached 13.1%, while 43 million people over 30 years of age cannot access the necessary attention. Hypertension affects more than a third of adults, but only 36.4% are controlled.

The report also addresses environmental and mental health challenges. Air pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and suicide rates have increased by 17.4% since 2000, with three times more affected men than women.

Some progress, but the region is out of the way

Despite increasing trends in total deaths, standardized mortality rates show some progress since 2000:

• NCD mortality rates decreased by 16.2%.
• Mortality rates of cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases fell by almost 30%.
• Cancer mortality rates fell by 24.6%.

There has also been progress in some modifiable risk factors since 2000:

• The use of tobacco decreased by 22.1%.
• Diabetes treatment coverage increased from 46.6% to 57.7%.

However, the region of the Americas is not on its way to achieving the global objective of a 25% reduction in premature mortality of NCD by 2025. From 2010 to 2021, premature mortality decreased by just 8%. Only five countries, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Chile and Granada, are on their way. However, eleven more member states could meet this objective with accelerated efforts.

A roadmap to accelerate NCD progress

To reduce the burden of ENTs, countries should expand prevention policies, such as tobacco and alcohol control, nutrition labeling the package front and promotion of physical activity, and strengthen primary care for early detection and hypertension management, diabetes and cancers. Mental health and suicide prevention must also be integrated into the first level of care.

Initiatives such as the Hearts of Paho program, now active in 33 countries and reaching 5.7 million people for hypertension treatment, and a key pillar of the best attention for the NCDs initiative, is helping countries strengthen primary care systems and implement national action plans.

The NCDS at a glance 2025PAHO’s second edition: It can help shape politics before the fourth high -level meeting of the UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of Ent and the promotion of mental health and well -being in September 2025, when countries are expected to adopt a new political statement. This offers a key opportunity to accelerate progress when addressing inequalities, the remodeling of health systems and addressing the root causes of the ENT.

Link to the report: NCDS at a glance 2025. Surveillance and monitoring of NCDS: Mortality of the non -communicable disease and prevalence of the risk factor in the Americas