Hospital Practices and Research

Physical Activity is an Essential Discharge Prescription for Patients with Non-Communicable Diseases

Document Type : Letter to Editor

Authors

Abdul Mateen Afa’Addin Mohidin 1
Shyh Poh Teo 2

1 Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, RIPAS Hospital, Brunei Darussalam

2 PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Darussalam

10.30491/hpr.2025.540135.1502
Abstract
The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) showed that over the past decade, the global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) had increased mainly due to population aging and the associated increase in the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In 2021, NCDs caused two-thirds of all-cause mortality, with cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes accounting for more than 80% of NCD mortality. Thus, NCDs should be prioritized from a public health perspective, with an ambitious Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of a reduction in NCDs by one-third from 2015 to 2030. Unfortunately, the likelihood of achieving this target appears slim.

Keywords

Hospital
Non-Communicable Diseases
Physical Activity
1.    Ferrari AJ, Santomauro DF, Aali A, Abate YH, Abbafati C, Abbastabar H, et al. Global incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 371 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet. 2024;403(10440):2133-61. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(24)00757-8
2.    Quiambao A, Malekpour MR, Golestani A, Heidari-Foroozan M, Ghamari SH, Abbasi-Kangevari M, et al. World health Organization’s guidance for tracking non-communicable diseases towards sustainable development goals 3.4: an initiative for facility-based monitoring. EClinicalMedicine. 2025;85:103304. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103304
3.    Bull FC, Al-Ansari SS, Biddle S, Borodulin K, Buman MP, Cardon G, et al. World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54(24):1451-62. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955
4.    Strain T, Flaxman S, Guthold R, Semenova E, Cowan M, Riley LM, et al. National, regional, and global trends in insufficient physical activity among adults from 2000 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 507 population-based surveys with 5· 7 million participants. Lancet Glob Health. 2024;12(8):e1232-43. doi:10.1016/s2214-109x(24)00150-5
5.    Liew JM, Teo SP. Physical activity in older people with cardiac co-morbidities. J Geriatr Cardiol. 2018;15(8): 557-8. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2018.08.004
6.    Bethancourt HJ, Rosenberg DE, Beatty T, Arterburn DE. Barriers to and facilitators of physical activity program use among older adults. Clinical Med Res. 2014;12(1-2):10-20. doi:10.3121/cmr.2013.1171
7.    Teo SP, Husaini A, Sharbini S. Empowering older adults for physical health and strength programme. Br J Sports Med. 2025;59(9):685-6. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2024-109476

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us