Seven out of ten deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean are due to chronic diseases (such as heart disease and stroke) and injuries, and health policy makers must take urgent action to reduce this burden, say researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
In an essay in PLoS Medicine, Pablo Perel and colleagues discuss the driving forces behind this epidemic of chronic disease and injury, and argue that lack of funding for health research in the region is hindering efforts to address the crisis.
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Citation: Perel P, Casas JP, Ortiz Z, Miranda JJ (2006) Noncommunicable diseases and injuries in Latin America and the Caribbean: Time for action. PLoS Med 3(9): e344. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0030344
PLEASE ADD THE LINK TO THE PUBLISHED ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0030344
PRESS-ONLY PREVIEW OF THE ARTICLE: http://www.plos.org/press/plme-03-09-perel.pdf
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CONTACT:
Pablo Perel
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Epidemiology and Population Health
Keppel Street
London, London WC1E 7HT
United Kingdom
+ 44 (0) 207 2747860
pablo.perel@lshtm.ac.uk
About PLoS Medicine
PLoS Medicine is an open access, freely available international medical journal. It publishes original research that enhances our understanding of human health and disease, together with commentary and analysis of important global health issues. For more information, visit http://www.plosmedicine.orgAbout the Public Library of Science
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