The global burden of cancers attributable to infections

Abstract

The world's population is ageing owing to increasing life expectancy and declining fertility. The populations of low-income and middle-income countries are now joining those of high-income countries in facing an increasing burden of chronic diseases. A report, Shades of gray: a cross-country study of health and well-being of the old populations in SAGE countries, 2007-2011, jointly published on May 9 by the US Census Bureau and WHO, aims to improve documentation of health outcomes in such populations. The report focuses on six countries- China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa- which hosted 42% of the world's 1ú4 billion people aged 50 years and older in 2010. The report concludes thatchronic diseases are the leading cause of mortality in older people in these countries and that consequently such diseases are "certain to have a remarkable impact on the world's overall disease burden and healthcare".