Chronic diseases represent a huge proportion of human illness.

The reduction of chronic disease is not a Millennium Development
Goal (MDG). While the political fashions have embraced some
diseases˜HIV-AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, in particular˜many
other common conditions remain marginal to the mainstream of
global action on health. Chronic diseases are among these
neglected conditions.

Chronic diseases represent a huge proportion of human illness.
They include cardiovascular disease (30% of projected total
worldwide deaths in 2005), cancer (13%), chronic respiratory
diseases (7%), and diabetes (2%). Two risk factors underlying
these conditions are key to any population-wide strategy of
control˜tobacco use and obesity. These risks and the diseases
they engender are not the exclusive preserve of rich nations.
Quite the contrary.1 Chronic diseases are a larger problem in
low-income settings. Research into chronic diseases in resource-
poor nations remains embryonic. But what evidence there is 2,3
shows just how critical it will be to intervene early in the
epidemic‚s course. There is an unusual opportunity before us to
act now to prevent the needless deaths of millions. Do we have
the insight and resolve to respond?

With a new series of articles, 4ˆ7 for which we thank the superb
efforts of Robert Beaglehole, The Lancet aims to fill a gap in
the global dialogue about disease. It is a surprising and
important gap, one that health workers and policymakers can no
longer afford to ignore. The call by Kathleen Strong and
colleagues4 for the world to set a target to reduce deaths from
chronic disease by 2% annually˜to prevent 36 million deaths by
2015˜deserves to be added to the existing eight MDGs.

Without concerted and coordinated political action, the gains
achieved in reducing the burden of infectious disease will be
washed away as a new wave of preventable illness engulfs those
least able to protect themselves. Let this series be part of a
new international commitment to deny that outcome.

Richard Horton
The Lancet, London NW1 7BY, UK

Please click on the link below to view the articles: