Top Five Causes of Deaths Worldwide (SLIDESHOW)

By Jijo Jacob | March 04 2011 4:43 AM

Photo: Reuters

Overweight and Obesity

According to the WHO's ranking of selected risk factors, overweight and Obesity was the fifth severest cause of all deaths across regions in the world and in all income groups. As per data for the year 2004, this malady was the cause of 4.8 percent of all deaths in the world. This accounted for as many as 2.8 million deaths in that year, according to WHO data. While in the high income countries this problem caused 8.4 percent deaths, it caused 6.7 percent of all deaths in the middle-income countries. However, in the low income countries overweight and obesity did not rank among the top ten reasons for death.

Photo: REUTERS

Physical Inactivity

Sedentary lifestyle was pointed out by the WHO as the fourth severest cause of deaths in the world. It accounted for 5.5 percent of all deaths, or claimed 3.2 million lives. In the high-income countries, 7.7 percent of deaths happened because of this while in middle income countries the figure was 6.6. percent and in low income countries 3.8 percent.

Photo: REUTERS

High Blood Glucose

High blood sugar caused 5.8 percent of all deaths in the world, or accounted for as many as 3.4 million deaths. Again, this lifestyle malady had the severest impact on the high-income countries, claiming 7 percent t of all deaths. Its share of deaths in middle income countries was 6.3 percent, while in low-income countries it was 4.9 percent.

Photo: REUTERS

Tobacco Use

Tobacco use is the second gravest cause of deaths in the world. This accounted for 8.7 percent of all deaths in the world, or 5.1 million total deaths. There are differences in the health impact of tobacco use across various income groups. While it accounted for as much as 17.9 percent deaths in high-income countries, in low-income countries it caused only 3.9 percent of deaths. In middle-income countries tobacco use caused 10.8 percent deaths. WHO also says tobacco smoking alone causes 71 percent of lung cancer deaths worldwide.

Photo: REUTERS

High Blood Pressure

According to WHO's ranking of selected risk factors, high blood pressure topped the chart across regions of the world and in all income groups. As per data for the year 2004, this malady caused the death of 7.5 million people. In percentage terms, high blood pressure accounted for 12. 8 percent of all deaths in the world. In high income countries this accounted for 16.8 percent of deaths while the figure for middle income countries was 17.2 percent. In low-income countries high blood pressure was a lesser reason for death, accounting for only 7.5 percent of deaths.

A study conducted by 250 scientists from 25 countries has revealed that developing diabetes in the middle ages can cause premature death owing to higher chances of developing illnesses like cancers, liver and kidney diseases, lung ailments and other infections.

The study, which was coordinated by the University of Cambridge, had analyzed data on more than 800,000 people.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the leading global risks for mortality in the world are high blood pressure, tobacco use, high blood glucose, physical inactivity, and overweight and obesity.

These risks are responsible for raising the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancers. They affect countries across all income groups: high, middle and low.