The main noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer, account for approximately 88% of all deaths in the Republic of Moldova. In addition, circulatory system diseases (CVDs), cancers, diabetes and respiratory diseases are responsible for about four out of 10 cases of primary disability and around 80% of mortality, while over 90% of the deaths due to the novel coronavirus had comorbidies through chronic diseases, Svetlana Nicolaescu, secretary of state of the Ministry of Health, stated in the event to present the results of the second national household survey on the prevalence of NCD risk factors, STEPS 2021, IPN reports.
The study says noncommunicable diseases represent a major threat to human and economic development. The burden imposed by NCDs could be lessened by reducing their leading behavioral and metabolic risk factors. The national household survey on the prevalence of NCD risk factors was conducted in the Republic of Moldova in 2021 using the WHO-approved standardized STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPS).
Svetlana Nicolaescu said noncommunicable diseases are mainly determined by the lifestyle and health behaviors, with tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity being among the major factors. The influence of health behaviors can prevent up to 18% of the premature deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases and diabetes and up to 40% of the premature deaths caused by cancer.
The survey reveals that in the Republic of Moldova 29.9% of the population were current tobacco users, with the prevalence about seven times higher among men (52.0%) than among women (7.7%). Nearly two thirds of the population (63.2%) were current drinkers. Fruit and vegetable consumption was generally low: 63.4% of the population consumed less than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, thus failing to meet WHO recommendations and being at higher risk for NCDs.
One in 11 individuals (9.1%) did not meet WHO recommendations on physical activity for health, with no significant difference between men and women. More than half of the population had received healthy lifestyle advice from a doctor or other health worker in the previous 12 months. Nearly two thirds of all females (65.1%) had undergone screening for cervical cancer at least once in their life.
As to overweight and obesity, the mean body mass index (BMI) for the population was 26.9 kg/m2. More than six out of 10 adults (63.9%) were overweight. Every 10th person (9.9%) was found to have impaired fasting glycaemia, or prediabetes and 6.3% had either diabetes or raised blood glucose.
NCDs and their major risk factors (tobacco and alcohol use and unhealthy diet) have been addressed through dedicated public health policies and some progress in reducing them has been made since 2013.
“Until 2030, we are to achieve a 30% reduction in premature deaths caused by noncommunicable diseases. The strategic directions in the field of NCDs were transposed for implementation through the specific objectives stipulated in the National Program for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, which is at the coordination stage,” said Svetlana Nicolaescu.
Miljana Grbic, World Health Organization Representative in the Republic of Moldova, said the combating of the noncommunicable disease risk factors is a complex problem that necessitates the commitment of all the decisions makers, private sector, agencies, partners so that both the social and commercial aspects of this issue are taken into account.
The survey was carried out by the Ministry of Health with the assistance of the WHO and with financial support from the World Bank.
