Increases in which category of health conditions account for the largest percentage of disabilities in all parts of the world?

Question breakdown

Tests

Identify global causes and trends in disability prevalence

Difficulty

Medium

Key idea: Global disability prevalence is rising mainly because of population aging and the growth of non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

How to reach the answer

1. Recall the WHO/World Bank World Report on Disability findings on why disability rates are increasing.
2. The report cites aging populations and the global rise in chronic health conditions as the main drivers.
3. Non-communicable diseases are estimated to account for the large majority of years lived with disability worldwide.
4. The phrase 'in all parts of the world' rules out regionally concentrated causes such as specific infectious diseases or conflict injuries.

Each option

• AIncorrect. Infectious diseases cause disability in some regions, but their share is declining and they do not lead globally.
• BIncorrect. Mental health conditions are a significant and growing contributor, but they are only part of the broader non-communicable category.
• CCorrect. Chronic non-communicable diseases are the largest and fastest-growing source of disability across all regions.
• DIncorrect. Traumatic injuries from accidents and conflict matter locally but represent a smaller share globally.

Common trap: Mental health conditions get a lot of attention as a leading cause of years lived with disability, but they fall within the larger non-communicable disease category.

In practice: Accessibility strategists cite chronic disease and aging trends to show that the population needing accessible products is large and growing.

Remember: Aging and non-communicable chronic diseases are the main drivers of rising disability worldwide.

Drafted with AI assistance and checked against the answer key.