Non-Communicable Diseases (H&D 005)

Question 1

What are some characteristics of non-communicable diseases

Answer 1

Are often incurable, disease develops over long periods of time, does not result from an infection of a pathogen and are “not communicable”

Question 2

What are some examples of NCD

Answer 2

Cancer, diabetes, arthritis, auto immune diseases and chronic lung disease (asthma)

Question 3

What is the definition of epidemiologic transition

Answer 3

The shift from the predominance of communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases

Question 4

What are the two types of risk factors with NCD

Answer 4

Modifiable and non-modifiable

Question 5

What is the definition of a modifiable disease

Answer 5

A risk factor that can be reduced or controlled by intervention in which reduces the possibility of the disease (eg. physical activity, high glucose/ blood levels, drug use or overweight)

Question 6

What is the definition of a non-modifiable disease

Answer 6

A risk factor that cannot be reduced or controlled by intervention (eg. age, gender, ethnic group or family history (genetics))

Question 7

What is the definition of prevention measures

Answer 7

Activities that stop people from getting a disease

Question 8

What is the definition of control measures

Answer 8

Activities that slow the course of an existing disease or reduce its severity. Also focused on controlling the disease after it has been contracted

Question 9

What are the three types of intervention

Answer 9

Primary, secondary and teritary

Question 10

What is the definition of primary intervention

Answer 10

A measure that try to stop the disease from developing at all

Question 11

What is the definition of secondary intervention

Answer 11

An intervention of early detection and treatment to limit the development of the disease once it has occurred

Question 12

What is the definition of tertiary intervention

Answer 12

To restrict the severity of the disease and improving the wellbeing for the person with the disease

Question 13

What is the process of screening used for

Answer 13

Screening is used to suggest or detect disease among individuals in a population without signs or symptoms (eg. breast cancer screening, blood testing, genetic screening of embryo or cervical cancer screening)

Question 14

What are the seven screening guidelines

Answer 14

1) The disease must be fatal or have serious consequences
2) Treatment should be available for the disease
3) Test should be easy to apply, cheap, reliable and valid
4) Cost effective
5) Disease should have a long lead time
6) Natural history of the disease should be known
7) Adequate facilities for diagnosis, treatment and follow up should be available

Question 15

What is the definition of sensitivity

Answer 15

A test of the proportion of subjects with the disease who have a positive test

Question 16

What is the definition of specificity

Answer 16

A test of the proportion of subjects without the disease who have a negative test

Question 17

What causes Alzheimer’s

Answer 17

Brain cell death overtime due to amyloid plaques not being broken down. These proteins become insoluble and disrupt signals being sent between the neurons within the brain

Question 18

What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Answer 18

Impaired communication, poor judgement, behavior changes, difficulty in speaking, swallowing and walking

Question 19

What are non-modifiable risk factors of Alzheimer’s

Answer 19

Age, family history, having the APOE gene and being female

Question 20

What are modifiable risk factors of Alzheimer’s

Answer 20

Cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure, prior head injury

Question 21

What is primary prevention of Alzheimer’s

Answer 21

Better control of blood pressure and cholesterol, more physical activity, less obesity

Question 22

What is secondary prevention of Alzheimer’s

Answer 22

Screening, drugs to reduce symptoms

Question 23

What is tertiary prevention of Alzheimer’s

Answer 23

Long term support to improve patient’s wellbeing