Global Burden of Life-Limiting Diseases to Double by 2060: Lancet

Number of people drying with serious health-related suffering is expected to almost double by 2060: Lancet.

83 percent of these deaths will occur in low-income and middle-income countries.

(Photo: iStockphoto)

A research published in the journal The Lancet Global Health found that the number of people drying with serious health-related suffering is expected to almost double by 2060.

Some of the findings of the research were:

• 83 percent of these deaths will occur in low-income and middle-income countries.
• Serious health-related suffering will increase in all regions, with the largest proportional rise in low-income countries.
• Such suffering will increase most rapidly among people aged 70 years or older.
• In absolute terms, it will be driven by rises in cancer and dementia deaths.

Medical Express reports lead author Dr Katherine Sleeman, NIHR Clinician Scientist and Honorary Consultant in palliative medicine at the Cicely Saunders Institute at King’s College London, highlighting the need for ‘immediate global action to integrate palliative care into health systems.’

Palliative care can relieve suffering for patients and families, and save money for health systems and society. To direct effective health care planning and policy development, it is essential to understand both the current and future level of palliative care need.

Dr Katherine Sleeman

The burden is especially high for developing and low-income countries since the largest proportional rise is estimated from those regions.