Clinical Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Jerry Adesola Adeyemo

doi:10.71097/IJSAT.v16.i4.9948

Clinical Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Author(s)	Dr. Jerry Adesola Adeyemo
Country	Germany
Abstract	Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have emerged as the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all deaths worldwide. This burden is disproportionately concentrated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where rapid demographic and epidemiological transitions have outpaced the capacity of health systems historically structured to address acute infectious conditions. Once viewed primarily as diseases of affluence, NCDs now dominate routine clinical practice across Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and parts of the Middle East, manifesting in high rates of premature mortality, advanced disease at presentation, and complex multimorbidity. This narrative review synthesizes contemporary global evidence on the clinical burden of NCDs in LMICs, with a focus on mortality and premature death, morbidity and disability, patterns of multimorbidity, health-system strain, and household-level socioeconomic consequences. Beyond population-level prevalence, the review highlights the lived clinical realities faced by patients and providers, including delayed diagnosis, preventable complications, treatment interruptions, and limited continuity of care. We examine the epidemiological transition driving NCD expansion, disease-specific clinical impacts across major NCD categories, shared behavioral and environmental risk factors, persistent gaps in diagnosis and treatment, and feasible system-level responses grounded in real-world LMIC contexts. The review argues that the current NCD burden represents not only a public health challenge but a sustained clinical crisis that threatens health-system sustainability, economic productivity, and social stability in LMICs. Addressing this challenge requires a fundamental shift from fragmented, episodic care toward integrated, longitudinal models centered on strong primary health care, equitable access to essential medicines, and effective population-level prevention strategies.
Keywords	Non-communicable diseases; Low- and middle-income countries; Clinical burden; Premature mortality; Multimorbidity; Health systems; Primary health care; Global health
Field	Medical / Pharmacy
Published In	Volume 16, Issue 4, October-December 2025
Published On	2025-12-31
DOI	https://doi.org/10.71097/IJSAT.v16.i4.9948
Short DOI	https://doi.org/hbjmqb

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Clinical Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

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