Noncommunicable Diseases

The objective of this Module is to provide scholars with the knowledge of main epidemiological characteristics of cardiovascular, endocrine, mental, neurological, and respiratory (COPD) diseases, cancers, and injuries and their burden on the population. Modifiable risk factors such as lifestyle (i.e. smoking, alcohol consumption, unhealthy nutrition, and physical inactivity), environmental, and socio-economic factors will be discussed.

Attention will also be paid to methodological issues of epidemiological and genetic research studying the impact of these factors on health and disease and the prevention and control of major diseases. Emphasis will be put on risk factors for non-infectious diseases and possibilities of their prevention and/or mitigation.

1. Estimate the burden of the most important health disorders in terms of Years of Life Lost (YLL) and Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) and or analogous concepts (QALY, PYLL)
2. Recognize the most frequent risk factors for non-communicable disease
3. Discuss the importance and basic epidemiological characteristics of chronic non-communicable diseases
4. Discuss the epidemiological characteristics of injury
5. Understand the importance of primary prevention and screening in the prevention of certain health disorders
6. Apply principles of prevention of the most common health disorders in their environment (family, workplace, community)