The CARMEN Network for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Report from the 2009 Biennial Meeting Lima, Peru 26–29 October 2009

The epidemic of chronic diseases threatens economic and social development, and the lives and health of millions of people. In 2005, an estimated 35 million people worldwide died from chronic diseases; this is double the number of deaths from all infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis), maternal and perinatal conditions, and nutritional deficiencies combined. While deaths from infectious diseases, perinatal conditions, and nutritional deficiencies are expected to decline by 3% over the next 10 years, deaths due to chronic diseases are projected to increase by 17% by 2015.