Important NCDs Flashcards
Depression definition
most common mental disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. Can lead to suicide at its worst.
Depression risk factors and causes
Genetic predisposition
o Chronic medical conditions
o Traumatic or stressful life events
o Substance abuse
o Hormonal changes
Depression PH relevance
Leading cause of disability worldwide. 3.25% of DALYs in the UK.
o Associated with increased risk of suicide
o Significant economic burden due to healthcare costs and lost productivity
Depression prevalence
13% 2022/23 QOF
Depression prevention
o Primary: Promoting mental well-being through community programs
o Secondary: Early detection through screening in primary care
o Tertiary: Providing effective treatment – reduce risk of suicide
Suicide and parasuicide definition
o Suicide: The act of intentionally causing one’s own death.
o Parasuicide: refers to non-fatal acts of self-harm or self-injury that are intentional but not necessarily with suicidal intent
Suicide risk factors
o Mental health disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder)
o Substance abuse
o History of trauma or abuse, suicide bereavement, prison
o Chronic pain or illness
o Social isolation
o Deprivation
financial difficulties
gambling
PH relevance of suicide
Major cause of premature mortality, preventable
o Significant impact on families and communities
o High economic costs due to healthcare utilization and lost productivity
prevalence of suicide
there were 6,069 suicides registered in England and Wales (11.4 deaths per 100,000 people) in 2023
Time/Place/Person - suicide
o Higher rates in males
o Peak incidence around younger adults and middle age
o Elevated rates in certain regions, including rural areas, deprived industrial areas
o Decreasing since 1980s but since 2000 it has plateaued. Increase associated with the financial crisis.
suicide prevention
o Primary: Implementing community-based mental health programs, debt relief, substance misuse programmes
o Secondary: Training healthcare providers to recognize and respond to warning signs, management of mental illness
o Tertiary: Providing support and counselling to individuals who have attempted suicide
dementia defintion
Neurodegenerative syndrome. Cognitive impairment in at least two of the following cognitive domains: memory, language, behaviour, visuospatial or executive function. Two main types:
o Alzheimer’s disease - Loss of acetylcholine receptors and neurons in the brain– atrophy of cerebral cortex and formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
o Vascular dementia - reduced blood supply to the brain following a stroke or multiple small strokes
dementia risk factors
o Age (most common in those over 65)
o Family history
o Cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes)
o Smoking
o Low educational attainment, learning disabilities
o Head injury
o associated with presence of other diseases e.g. CVD, obesity, downs syndrome, depression
o higher risk with smoking, poor diet and excessive alcohol
dementia PH relevance
o Leading cause of death in the UK, increasing prevalence with aging population
o No cure
o Significant burden on healthcare and social services
o High economic costs due to long-term care needs – health and social care and informal carers
Dementia epi
o Higher prevalence in women
o Risk Increases with age (genetic has earlier onset)
Increasing with ageing population
dementia prevention
o Primary: Promoting cardiovascular health through diet and exercise
o Secondary: Early detection through cognitive screening and treatment with protective factors/address modifiable risk factors – use of memory and cognitive skills
o Tertiary: Providing support services and interventions to manage symptoms
dementia prevalence
7% in older adults
large proportion undiagnosed.
Parkinson’s disease definition
Chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder leading to loss of dopamine-containing cells in the substantia nigra.
o Cardinal symptoms are: resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slow and small movement), postural instability.
Parkinson’s disease risk factors
o Age (most common after 60)
o Family history
o Exposure to MPTP
o Weak evidence for head trauma, toxin exposure (e.g., pesticides)
Parkinson’s disease PH relevance
o A leading cause of disability in older adults. Increasing with ageing population.
o High healthcare costs due to long-term treatment and caregiving needs + common cause of falls and hospital admissions.
o No cure, but treatments can improve quality of life. Difficult to diagnose early.
Parkinson’s disease prevalence
o Around 153,000 people were living with Parkinson’s in the UK in 2023. (parkinsons.org.uk)
o The lifetime risk of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease is 2.7%. This is equivalent to 1 in every 37 people being diagnosed at some point in their lifetime.
Parkinson’s disease epi
o More common in men than women.
o Risk increases with age.
o Higher rates in areas with an aging population.
Parkinson’s disease prevention
o Secondary: Early detection and symptom management. Screening may be more widespread if more treatments/ protective agents are developed
o Tertiary: treatment of symptoms - Physical therapy, medications, and surgical treatments (e.g., deep brain stimulation).
Schizophrenia defintion
A severe psychotic disorder.
o chronic, often lifelong, psychotic condition or group of conditions characterised by three types of symptoms:
(a) positive – third-person auditory hallucinations, delusions, disrupted speech;
(b) negative – flat affect, low mood, withdrawal from social life, lack of motivation;
(c) cognitive – memory, concentration problems
