Implementation of a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Screening Programme in a Rural African HIV Clinic
Non-communicable diseases (NCD) account for more than 60% of global deaths,
80% of which occur in low and middle income countries.
It is projected that by 2030 NCD will account for more than 50% of the mortality
in low income countries, surpassing communicable diseases.
The emergence of non-communicable diseases in low income countries is partially the result of
improved outcomes from high burden communicable diseases, such as HIV.
Large injections of international funding, and improvements in the diagnosis and
management of HIV, and other high burden diseases is resulting in much longer
life expectancy for those affected.
However, as people are now living longer, they are also going on to develop NCD
co-morbidities, which is resulting in a double burden of disease for developing countries.
The evidence base shows that HIV treatment is associated with the development of diabetes,
hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, normally related to type and length of treatment.
International aid programmes are becoming more successful at reaching HIV+ patients
in low resource settings with effective treatment, which will extend their life, and also lead
to a large proportion of some populations on life-long HIV treatment.
The increase in life expectancy, and the interaction between HIV treatment
and the development of diabetes and hypertension, will contribute to projected
large increases in NCD in the coming years.
HIV/AIDS Res Treat Open J. 2017; 4(1): 32-39. doi: 10.17140/HARTOJ-4-125
