The Burden of Non-communicable Diseases and Diabetic Retinopathy

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a global health and developmental crisis. They cause premature mortality, aggravate poverty, and threaten global economies [2]. Four NCDs, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes mellitus (DM), cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases, are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR), accounting for 55% of all deaths each year (~7.9 million) [3, 4]. In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated a 21% increase in deaths due to NCDs over the next decade [5]. Furthermore, NCDs claim lives at a younger age in South-East Asia than in other WHO regions [6].