NCD Brief Two – The double-edged sword of a longer life

The double-edged sword of a longer life: NCDs, age and ageing

Percept | January 2022

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) collectively account for more than 70% of global deaths, with
over half of those deaths among people older than 70. NCDs are also seen as the biggest health issue
for those over 60. As more people live to older ages thanks to technological evolution, increased
medical knowledge and life-saving medicines, the burden of NCDs is expected to keep rising. It’s
already showing up in data that documents causes of death in many high-income countries, as well as
in some South African provinces.