Online Program

330677
Adult Mortality of Non-Communicable Disease and Injury Attributable to Metabolic, Lifestyle, Environmental, and Infectious Risk Factors in Taiwan: A Comparative Risk Assessment


Wednesday, November 4, 2015 : 12:30 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.

Wei-Cheng Lo, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
Shu-Ti Chiou, Ph.D., Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan, R.O.C., New Taipei City, Taiwan
Baai-Shyun Hurng, Surveillance and Research Division, Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan
Mei-Shu Lai, MD, PhD, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
Hsien-Ho Lin, MD, ScD, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
Background:No study has provided consistent and comparative evidence on effects of multiple modifiable risk factors on non-communicable diseases and injuries in Taiwan. To facilitate priority setting in health policy making, we estimated the mortality burden attributable to 11 metabolic, lifestyle, infectious, and environmental risk factors in Taiwan.

Methods:We obtained data on risk factor exposure from nationally representative health surveys, cause-specific mortality from the National Death Registry, and relative risks from epidemiological studies and meta-analyses. We applied the comparative risk assessment framework to estimate mortality burden attributable to individual risk factor or risk factor clusters.

Results:In 2009, tobacco smoking accounted for 15,840 deaths (95% CI: 13,980–17,700), followed by high blood glucose (12,000 death, 95% CI: 9,940–14,070), high blood pressure (9,280 death, 95% CI: 7,290–11,260), physical inactivity (6,410 death, 95% CI: 5,980–6,830), and high body mass index (6,260 death, 95% CI: 5,180–7,340). For domestic risk factors, infections from hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were responsible for 5,570 deaths (95% CI: 5,110–6,030) and 2,830 deaths (95% CI: 1,980–3,690), respectively, and betel nut use was associated with 1,670 deaths from oral, larynx, and esophagus cancer (95% CI: 1,120–2,230). HBV and HCV infections and alcohol use jointly accounted for 58.6% (2,830) deaths from chronic liver disease and 72.4% (5,590) deaths from liver cancer. Fine particle pollution accounted for 5,930 deaths (95% CI: 4,660–7,200) from cerebrovascular diseases, lung diseases, and lung cancer.

Conclusions: Tobacco smoking, high blood glucose, and high blood pressure are the major risk factors for deaths from non-communicable diseases among Taiwanese adults. A large number of years of life would be gained if the 11 modifiable risk factors can be removed or reduced to an optimal level.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify the mortality burden attributable to 11 metabolic, lifestyle, infectious, and environmental risk factors in Taiwan.

Keyword(s): Public Health Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Hsien-Ho Lin and Dr. Mei-Shu Lia, who both are well-funded epidemiologist with amount of research experience in chronic disease prevention. My research focuses on studying national burden of disease and cancer prevention in Taiwan.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.