This document discusses the relationship between demographic transition and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) around the world and in Bangladesh specifically. It outlines the 5 stages of demographic transition and how countries experience a shift from high birth and death rates to low rates. This transition is linked to increasing NCD prevalence as populations age, adopt unhealthy lifestyles, and are exposed to risk factors at younger ages. The document then examines trends in NCD burden during demographic transition in developed countries, South Asia, and Bangladesh. It notes the growing challenges of NCDs in Bangladesh and policies needed to address them like strengthening tobacco control and health services.

1. Demographic Transition and
its relation to NCD
Presented by-
Dr. Jheelam Biswas
Department of NCD
BUHS

2. Outline
• What is demographic transition
• Stages of demographic transition
• Demographic transition and NCD around the
world
• Demographic transition and NCD in Bangladesh
• Challenges and policies to combat NCD

3. What is demographic transition
• It describes the transition from high birth and
death rates to low birth and death rates as the
country or region progresses from the pre-
industrial to industrialized economic system.
• 1st described by Warren Thompson in 1929.
Frank W. Notestein gave the modern DTM.

4. Stages of demographic transition

5. Stage 1: Expanding
Population Pyramid
Shape: Concave
triangular
Age Structure of
Population:
 Rapid fall in each
age group due to
high death rates
 Short life
expectancy

6. Stage 2: Expanding
Population Pyramid
Shape: Triangular
Age structure of
Population:
 Growing young
dependant
population
 Increasingly
youthful age
structure
 Accelerating
population growth

7. Stage 3: Stationary
Population Pyramid
Shape: Columnar
Age structure of
Population:
 Decreasing TFR
 Bulge in the
reproductive age
 Increasing life
expectancy
 Country enjoys large
working population

8. Stage 4: Contracting
Population Pyramid
Shape: Inverted
Age structure of
Population:
 Birth rate low and
death rate low
 Age structure
becomes older

9. Stage 5: Declining
Population Pyramid
Shape: Inverted
Age structure of
Population:
 Birth rate is very
low, even below the
replacement level
 Declining population
 Aging population
increases

10. Relationship between DTM and NCD
As a country goes through the stages of this
transition there is also shift of the disease
pattern to NCD because-
Increasing burden of aging population
Changes in lifestyle and urbanization
Increasing risk factors among the younger
population causing development of NCD in later
age.

12. DTM and NCD in developed countries
• The completion of the demographic transition
has left fertility rates in most developed
countries at below replacement levels.
• In 2010, the number of elderly people around
the world was 524 million (65 and older), and at
this rate, in 2050, the number would be expected
to be triple, almost 16% of the world population.

14. Cont…
• As the burden of aging population increases,
annual NCD deaths are projected to rise
substantially, reaching 52 million by 2030.
• By 2030, NCDs are projected to account for more
than one-half of the disease burden in low-
income countries and more than three-fourths in
middle-income countries. Mainly people over 80
will share this burden.

15. Prevalence of NCD among people 54-74 yrs olds in
Europe, US and England.

16. DTM, NCD and developing countries
• In developing countries urbanization and
industrialization also play role along with aging.
• In SEA, most countries are in stage 3 of DTM.
• So industrialization and urbanization are taking
their tolls along with falling birth rate and death
rates as well as improved health system.

17. Cont..
• Exposure to other risk factors responsible for
NCD like unhealthy diet, tobacco and others
cause rise of NCD among young people, and
also there is fall in death rates, so many people
will live with this increasing burden, and also
many more will be affected as they age.

18. Age structure in South Asia, 1991, 2010, 2025, and 2050

19. Burden of disease as a proportion of total forgone DALYs by cause,
selected regions, 2004

20. Cont..
• Among females the risk factor of NCD are mainly
hypertension and high blood lipids.
• Among males, the risk factors of NCD are
tobacco consumption and alcohol use, high
cholesterol, high blood pressure, and low
consumption of fruits and vegetables.

21. DALYs attributable to 10 leading risk factors by sex, adults 15–
69 years, South Asia, 2004

22. Cont..
• The burden of NCD varies from country to
country.
• In more developed countries like SriLanka NCD
are definitely increasing, but in developing
countries like Nepal or Bangladesh, both
communicable and noncommunicable diseases
persist, but NCD are definitely increasing.

23. Proportion of total deaths and forgone DALYs due to NCD,
South Asia, 2004

24. DTM and NCD in Bangladesh
• As socio- economic condition in Bangladesh
develops the birth rate falls over the time as well
as death rate, and the country has entered into
demographical transition.
• The population structure of Bangladesh still in
productive cohort, but adult and child
dependency is almost in the lowest level and is
expected to decline soon.

26. Changing age structure in Bangladesh (source: El-Saharty et al. forthcoming)

27. Cont..
• There are few factors that is causing the rising
NCD in Bangladesh as it passes through the
stages of DTM
1. Tobacco,
2. Unhealthy lifestyle,
3. Less physical activity,

28. Cont..
4. Huge middle-age bulge in the population
structure, exposed to risk factors and
developing NCDs
5. Rising older population group

29. Double burden of diseases in
Bangladesh
• Mortality from communicable, maternal,
neonatal and nutritional disorders fell in
Bangladesh dramatically from 583/100 000 in
1990 to 178 /100 000 in 2010, with similar falls in
males and females.
• Mainly due to fall in MMR and childhood
communicable diseases.

30. Cont…
• Mortality rates from noncommunicable diseases
as a group remained steady at around 360
deaths /100 000 population, although this masks
a rise in mortality among males, and a fall in
mortality among females.
• Among then death from CVD rose, but other
remained fairly same.

31. Pattern of overall DALYs (age standardized) and NCD related DALYs in
Bangladesh, 2004

32. Challenges and policies to combat
NCD
• The main challenges for NCD in Bangladesh are-
Population age will increase in future
NCD now the major concern in the health related
challenges
Prevealence of risk factors, especially tobacco
higher in South Asian region, also in Bangladesh,
especially among low income people

33. Cont..
• Right now a few NGOs, private sectors and WHO
are mainly working to combat NCD in
Bangladesh.
• But government must take some initiative too.
• In 2010 WHO has suggested a policy framework
for Bangladesh to combat NCD. The options
are-

34. Cont..
Retool health services delivery for NCD
Strengthen tobacco control policy
Strengthen injury control policy
Develop national NCD surveillance system
Strengthen and evaluate capacity
Participating regional collaboration