Top 10 Risk Factors With Highest Death And Disability Rate In Nepal

Last updated on 2024-03-29
Top 10 Risk Factors With Highest Death And Disability Rate In Nepal

Between 1990 and 2017, Nepal underwent a change in disease burden from communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional (CMNN) disorders to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The proportion of risk factors that drive death from NCDs will and has continued to increase due to an aging population and lifestyle changes such as tobacco use, hazardous alcohol intake, poor diets, and insufficient physical activity. Here are the top 10 risk factors for mortality as determined by the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), whose data is based on over 80,000 distinct data sources.

*The ranking is done based on research done by The Everest List

10. WaSH

WaSH
Image Source: iwmi.cgiar

Unsafe WaSH is associated with a variety of diseases and dangers, including infections, non-communicable diseases caused by pollutants in drinking water, and negative effects on health. WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) are critical to human health. More than 884 million people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water. In Nepal, 10.8 million people lack access to improved sanitation and 3.5 million lack access to basic water services. Between 2009 and 2019, the percentage change in Safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene was -50.6%.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : −50.6%

9. Alcohol Use

Alcohol Use
Image Source: holidify

Alcohol use is associated with a dependence on alcohol rather than occasional use. Excessive drinking leads to an addiction which develops health problems such as mental and behavioural disorders, diseases such as liver cirrhosis, cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Al large proportion of the deaths due to alcohol consumption arises from unintentional and intentional injuries including road traffic crashes, violence, and suicide. In Nepal, there has been a 30.30% of the increase in deaths due to alcohol use.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 30.30%

8. High Body-Mass Index

High Body-Mass Index
Image Source: drvarsha

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a good indicator of health. It is based on the height and mass of the person. With ongoing urbanization in the Nepalese top cities, the bad popularity of a sedentary lifestyle has been increasing. Due to this, the BMI values are drastically high and obesity has been a major problem in people. High BMI index prevalence increased by 95.40% between 2009 and 2019, making it the ninth leading factor of death.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 95.40%

7. Diabetes

Diabetes
Image Source: verywellhealth

High fasting plasma glucose levels hamper the very basic fundamentals of our body. It affects human metabolism, which has the role in extracting and using the energy from food in the cellular activities of the body. A normal blood sugar level is 70 to 100. A blood sugar level above 140 is too high. WHO estimates that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030. In the context of Nepal. In terms of disability-adjusted life years and age-standardized mortality, Nepal is suffering from problems like such. High fasting plasma glucose prevalence increased by 70.40% between 2009 and 2019, making it the eighth leading factor of death.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 70.40%

6. Occupational Risks

Occupational Risks
Image Source: mdx.ac.uk

A lot of workers in Nepal face occupational risks, a term-based risk encountered at work that could cause harm, physically, chemically, biologically, emotionally etc. Vehicle accidents, asthma, chronic pulmonary diseases, drowning etc are associated with occupational health hazards that lead to death. Occupational risk prevalence increased by 11% between 2009 and 2019, making it the seventh leading factor of death in Nepal.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 11.00%

5. Dietary Risks

Dietary Risks
Image Source: unicef

Dietary risks are risks related to food that include obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary heart diseases. Among these, some are directly caused by a bad diet and unhealthy eating habits. While diseases like diabetes may not be caused by a bad diet but after contracting the illness people need to keep their diets in mind as following an unhealthy diet is fatal. The increase in dietary risks causing death has increased by 36.30% since 2009. This is because there is an increase in ease of access to junk food which is available more cheaply and quickly than healthier options.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 36.30%

4. High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure
Image Source: onlinekhabar

High blood pressure or hypertension is found among 17.0% of Nepali women and 23.0% of Nepali men aged 15 and above. Even more alarmingly, people in the age group of 55-59 years, 32.0% of women and 36% of men have hypertension. It can be caused by smoking tobacco, excessive alcohol use, poor diet, obesity and physical inactivity. However, the leading cause seems to be a high intake of salt. Among these factors, certain biological factors such as genetics and environmental factors like stress may also cause high blood pressure.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 20.30%

3. Tobacco Use

Tobacco Use
Image Source: himalayantimes

Every year, on average, 27,137 individuals are killed by tobacco-related sickness, the majority of them are children. Cardiovascular disorders (53%) were the most common, followed by chronic respiratory diseases (21%).In Nepal, men are more likely than women to use tobacco in general (61.1% vs. 19.2%), and smokeless tobacco in particular (43.6% vs. 7.4%). It is most prevalent among the poor and illiterate segments of the population and tends to rise with age. Tobacco consumption has increased by 10% between 2009 and 2019, making it the third leading cause of mortality.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 10.00%

2. Air Pollution

Air Pollution
Image Source: nepaltimes

In the current condition, Nepal, particularly Kathmandu, is experiencing fast urbanization and a variety of infrastructure development projects. This, together with the transportation industry, is one of the major sources of air pollution. Chronic exposure to degraded air raises the risk of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) such as lung disease, heart disease, and cancer. Short-term exposures also attract respiratory illnesses and allergies. According to the SoGA data, air pollution was the biggest cause of premature deaths in Nepal in 2019, accounting for roughly 22% of all fatalities. Nepal recorded 42,115 fatalities from air pollution. The percentage variation in air pollution between 2009 and 2019 is -14.3%, making it the second highest risk factor for death.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : −14.3%

1. Malnutrition

Malnutrition
Image Source: nepaltimes

Hunger has long plagued the land here in the backwaters of Nepal's eastern lowlands. State negligence, inequality, and injustice have created a vicious cycle in which families are too poor to eat enough, which causes them to become ill, and the need to spend money on medical treatment pushes them deeper into poverty, allowing them to buy less food. From 2009 to 2019, the percentage change in malnutrition was 46.4%. Despite the fact that the prevalence of diseases among individuals has reduced, it continues to cause the greatest number of deaths in Nepal.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : −46.4%

Featured Articles


TOP 10 Nepali Artists on Spotify

TOP 10 Nepali Artists on Spotify

Last updated on 2024-03-29

TOP 10 Television Stations of Nepal

TOP 10 Television Stations of Nepal

Last updated on 2024-03-29

Top 10 Male Actors of Nepal

Top 10 Male Actors of Nepal

Last updated on 2024-03-29

page view count (for last 7 days) : 0

10. WaSH

WaSH
Image Source: iwmi.cgiar

Unsafe WaSH is associated with a variety of diseases and dangers, including infections, non-communicable diseases caused by pollutants in drinking water, and negative effects on health. WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) are critical to human health. More than 884 million people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water. In Nepal, 10.8 million people lack access to improved sanitation and 3.5 million lack access to basic water services. Between 2009 and 2019, the percentage change in Safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene was -50.6%.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : −50.6%

9. Alcohol Use

Alcohol Use
Image Source: holidify

Alcohol use is associated with a dependence on alcohol rather than occasional use. Excessive drinking leads to an addiction which develops health problems such as mental and behavioural disorders, diseases such as liver cirrhosis, cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Al large proportion of the deaths due to alcohol consumption arises from unintentional and intentional injuries including road traffic crashes, violence, and suicide. In Nepal, there has been a 30.30% of the increase in deaths due to alcohol use.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 30.30%

8. High Body-Mass Index

High Body-Mass Index
Image Source: drvarsha

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a good indicator of health. It is based on the height and mass of the person. With ongoing urbanization in the Nepalese top cities, the bad popularity of a sedentary lifestyle has been increasing. Due to this, the BMI values are drastically high and obesity has been a major problem in people. High BMI index prevalence increased by 95.40% between 2009 and 2019, making it the ninth leading factor of death.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 95.40%

7. Diabetes

Diabetes
Image Source: verywellhealth

High fasting plasma glucose levels hamper the very basic fundamentals of our body. It affects human metabolism, which has the role in extracting and using the energy from food in the cellular activities of the body. A normal blood sugar level is 70 to 100. A blood sugar level above 140 is too high. WHO estimates that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030. In the context of Nepal. In terms of disability-adjusted life years and age-standardized mortality, Nepal is suffering from problems like such. High fasting plasma glucose prevalence increased by 70.40% between 2009 and 2019, making it the eighth leading factor of death.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 70.40%

6. Occupational Risks

Occupational Risks
Image Source: mdx.ac.uk

A lot of workers in Nepal face occupational risks, a term-based risk encountered at work that could cause harm, physically, chemically, biologically, emotionally etc. Vehicle accidents, asthma, chronic pulmonary diseases, drowning etc are associated with occupational health hazards that lead to death. Occupational risk prevalence increased by 11% between 2009 and 2019, making it the seventh leading factor of death in Nepal.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 11.00%

5. Dietary Risks

Dietary Risks
Image Source: unicef

Dietary risks are risks related to food that include obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary heart diseases. Among these, some are directly caused by a bad diet and unhealthy eating habits. While diseases like diabetes may not be caused by a bad diet but after contracting the illness people need to keep their diets in mind as following an unhealthy diet is fatal. The increase in dietary risks causing death has increased by 36.30% since 2009. This is because there is an increase in ease of access to junk food which is available more cheaply and quickly than healthier options.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 36.30%

4. High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure
Image Source: onlinekhabar

High blood pressure or hypertension is found among 17.0% of Nepali women and 23.0% of Nepali men aged 15 and above. Even more alarmingly, people in the age group of 55-59 years, 32.0% of women and 36% of men have hypertension. It can be caused by smoking tobacco, excessive alcohol use, poor diet, obesity and physical inactivity. However, the leading cause seems to be a high intake of salt. Among these factors, certain biological factors such as genetics and environmental factors like stress may also cause high blood pressure.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 20.30%

3. Tobacco Use

Tobacco Use
Image Source: himalayantimes

Every year, on average, 27,137 individuals are killed by tobacco-related sickness, the majority of them are children. Cardiovascular disorders (53%) were the most common, followed by chronic respiratory diseases (21%).In Nepal, men are more likely than women to use tobacco in general (61.1% vs. 19.2%), and smokeless tobacco in particular (43.6% vs. 7.4%). It is most prevalent among the poor and illiterate segments of the population and tends to rise with age. Tobacco consumption has increased by 10% between 2009 and 2019, making it the third leading cause of mortality.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : 10.00%

2. Air Pollution

Air Pollution
Image Source: nepaltimes

In the current condition, Nepal, particularly Kathmandu, is experiencing fast urbanization and a variety of infrastructure development projects. This, together with the transportation industry, is one of the major sources of air pollution. Chronic exposure to degraded air raises the risk of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) such as lung disease, heart disease, and cancer. Short-term exposures also attract respiratory illnesses and allergies. According to the SoGA data, air pollution was the biggest cause of premature deaths in Nepal in 2019, accounting for roughly 22% of all fatalities. Nepal recorded 42,115 fatalities from air pollution. The percentage variation in air pollution between 2009 and 2019 is -14.3%, making it the second highest risk factor for death.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : −14.3%

1. Malnutrition

Malnutrition
Image Source: nepaltimes

Hunger has long plagued the land here in the backwaters of Nepal's eastern lowlands. State negligence, inequality, and injustice have created a vicious cycle in which families are too poor to eat enough, which causes them to become ill, and the need to spend money on medical treatment pushes them deeper into poverty, allowing them to buy less food. From 2009 to 2019, the percentage change in malnutrition was 46.4%. Despite the fact that the prevalence of diseases among individuals has reduced, it continues to cause the greatest number of deaths in Nepal.

  • % Change, 2009-2019 : −46.4%

Featured Articles


TOP 10 Nepali Artists on Spotify

TOP 10 Nepali Artists on Spotify

Last updated on 2024-03-29

TOP 10 Television Stations of Nepal

TOP 10 Television Stations of Nepal

Last updated on 2024-03-29

Top 10 Male Actors of Nepal

Top 10 Male Actors of Nepal

Last updated on 2024-03-29