Global Health Threats: Analysis of Preventable Diseases by The Lancet
A Global Diagnosis of Human Health
The latest edition of The Lancet has mapped out a detailed overview of the threats that most affect the health of humanity. The main finding is clear: half of the world’s diseases and deaths are related to 88 preventable risk factors. Among the most determining factors are high fasting blood sugar, low birth weight, elevated LDL cholesterol, kidney dysfunction, stunted growth in children, and lead exposure.
“Nearly half of the global mortality and morbidity in 2023 was attributed to risks that we can modify,” said Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. The researcher called on governments to act urgently: “We are facing a wake-up call that demands a strategic and sustained response.”
An Unprecedented Scientific Effort
The report was prepared by a global network of 16,500 scientists and researchers. It analyzed data from 375 diseases and injuries and 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, covering over three decades of information (1990–2023). For this edition, 310,000 data sources were incorporated, 30% of which are new, making the GBD the most comprehensive study of global health ever conducted.
The results show that, although infectious diseases are declining, non-communicable diseases such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are dominating the landscape. These conditions represent almost two-thirds of global deaths and diagnoses, progressively displacing infections and maternal and child causes.
The Most Pressing Risks to Global Health
- Hypertension and obesity: both factors have steadily increased in recent decades and are responsible for millions of annual deaths.
- Environmental pollution: exposure to fine particles continues to be one of the leading causes of lost years of life, especially in Asia and Africa.
- Smoking and drug use: disorders related to substance abuse increased by 9% between 2010 and 2023.
- Elevated blood sugar and cholesterol: rates associated with altered metabolism continue to rise and are linked to an increase in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
- Lead exposure: despite the ban on fuels, the metal remains present in paints, contaminated soils, and kitchen utensils, directly impacting cardiovascular health.
Lead exposure: despite the ban on fuels, the metal continues to be present in paints, contaminated soils, and kitchen utensils, with a direct impact on cardiovascular health. Extreme heat and air pollution also intensify the vulnerability of the poorest regions. In the African Sahel, for example, a combination of droughts, food insecurity, and human displacement worsens the effects of high temperatures.
Inequalities that persist
Demographically, the report shows progress and contrasts. Global life expectancy has returned to pre-pandemic levels: 76.3 years for women and 71.5 years for men, but with a gap of more than 20 years between rich and poor countries. While life expectancy in high-income regions is around 83 years, in sub-Saharan Africa it barely exceeds 62.
Worrisome trends are observed in young age groups. Between 20 and 39 years old in North America, deaths increased due to suicides, overdoses, and alcoholism, while mortality rates among 5-19 year-olds grew in Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. In contrast, infant mortality dropped drastically: in East Asia, it decreased by 68% thanks to vaccination campaigns and improvements in nutrition and public health.
The silent decline of mental health
One of the most worrying data in the report is the silent decline of mental health. Since 1990, cases of anxiety have grown by 63% and depression by 26%. Social factors like sexual abuse, domestic violence, and economic stress contribute significantly to this phenomenon, which disproportionately affects women and youth.
A warning for the future
Professor Emmanuela Gakidou, a lead author of the report, warned about the danger of undoing the progress made: “Decades of health progress could crumble due to cuts in international cooperation. Without funding for primary care, vaccines, and medications, the gap between rich and poor countries will widen even further.”
The GBD delivers a clear message: prevention is the most powerful and cost-effective tool to improve global health. Reducing exposure to risks such as poor nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle, or pollution would not only save millions of lives but also relieve pressure on healthcare systems.
In the words of Dr. Murray, “knowing the risks is the first step; acting on them is a political and ethical decision.”
