(ARA) – Throughout human history, communicable diseases such as influenza and AIDS have posed a huge threat to global health. But there is now an emerging global health epidemic which may take an even greater toll.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, currently account for 60 percent of deaths worldwide. If not addressed properly, that number could grow to 75 percent of global deaths by 2020, according to the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance.

In the developing world, NCDs are an even bigger threat, with 80 percent of the annual deaths from these diseases occurring in low- or middle-income countries, further contributing to poverty and hindering development in these countries. NCDs not only claim millions of lives each year, but have the potential to result in billions of dollars in health care costs and trillions of dollars in lost economic development.

NCDs present a different challenge than communicable diseases, as they are usually the result of long-term health behaviors that are affected by one’s environment. By focusing on prevention of common risk factors such as tobacco use, obesity and harmful use of alcohol, significant health gains can be realized.

However, because non-communicable diseases have already become so widespread, it is necessary to think beyond prevention and also to consider treatment and management of these diseases. Even with current prevention efforts, in the U.S. alone it is predicted that the cost of cardiovascular disease could triple by the year 2030 and the number of people with diabetes is expected to triple in that same timeframe.

These are just a few parts of the complex global NCD situation the United Nations will consider in September during its General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases. It is the first such high-level meeting to focus on health since a similar one on HIV/AIDS in 2001.

Leading up to the summit, the U.N. has engaged the world business community to provide support and suggestions on how to battle NCDs.

An example of how companies can help drive positive change is Medtronic, a leading developer of innovative medical technology. The company has joined the fight against NCDs by partnering with organizations around the world to address the NCD challenge through the following activities:

* Provide financial support and research assistance to the U.N., NDC Alliance and other global bodies dedicated to NCDs, while working with global policy makers on improving patient access to therapies.

* Improve health care systems’ ability to combat NCDs by providing training and education to both patients and providers.

* Introduce new therapies and health care delivery models, such as a medical device walk-through clinic in Beijing to give patients who don’t have regular access to physicians the chance to learn about medical devices they may be using.

To learn more about what’s being done to fight NCDs, visit www.ncdalliance.org or www.medtronic.com.