Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40790734›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Noncommunicable diseases: a silent epidemic in occupied palestine: results from the world health organization STEPS survey 2022.

Salwa Massad, Mervett Isbeih, Marwa Owess, Heba Fouad, Khalid Abu Saman, Sally Issawi, Shannon Barkley, Nancy Falah, Stefan Savin, Patricia Rarau and 1 more

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Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Salwa MassadWorld Health Organization, Othman Ibn Affan Street, 24 Sheikh Jarrah, P.O. Box 54812, Jerusalem, Switzerland. salwamassad@gmail.com.
Mervett IsbeihWorld Health Organization, Othman Ibn Affan Street, 24 Sheikh Jarrah, P.O. Box 54812, Jerusalem, Switzerland.
Marwa OwessWorld Health Organization, Othman Ibn Affan Street, 24 Sheikh Jarrah, P.O. Box 54812, Jerusalem, Switzerland.
Heba FouadWorld Health Organization/Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt.
Khalid Abu SamanWorld Health Organization, Othman Ibn Affan Street, 24 Sheikh Jarrah, P.O. Box 54812, Jerusalem, Switzerland.
Sally IssawiWorld Health Organization, Othman Ibn Affan Street, 24 Sheikh Jarrah, P.O. Box 54812, Jerusalem, Switzerland.
Shannon BarkleyWorld Health Organization, Othman Ibn Affan Street, 24 Sheikh Jarrah, P.O. Box 54812, Jerusalem, Switzerland.
Nancy FalahPalestinian Ministry of Health, Ramallah, Palestine.
Stefan SavinWorld Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Patricia RarauWorld Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Richard PeeperkornWorld Health Organization, Othman Ibn Affan Street, 24 Sheikh Jarrah, P.O. Box 54812, Jerusalem, Switzerland.

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNoncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among Palestinians, accounting for 71.8% of all deaths in 2023. Following the initial STEPS survey conducted in 2010/2011 and in accordance with WHO recommendations, a second STEPS survey was carried out for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) between August and October 2022.

methodsThe target population for the survey included all Palestinian individuals between 18 and 69 years of age residing in the West Bank and Gaza. A three-stage stratified cluster sampling method was used to randomly select a sample of 5,775 adults from 525 enumeration areas, comprising 3,135 individuals from the West Bank and 2,640 from the Gaza Strip. Of the target sample, 5503 adults participated in the survey.

resultsThe prevalence of smoking, obesity, and insufficient physical activity among Palestinians was notably high, with rates of 33.5%, 31.6%, and 21.1%. The prevalence of smoking among men in the West Bank was alarmingly high and was the highest in the world. In terms of diet, 84.3% of the participants reported an insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables, and 26.5% always or often added salt to their food before eating. Among the Palestinian population aged 18-69 years, 7.6% had raised fasting blood glucose (≥ 126 mg/dl) or were currently on medication for raised blood glucose; and 17.1% of adults between the ages of 40-69 years had a 10-year cardiovascular disease risk (CVD) risk ≥ 20% or had existing CVD. More than 55% of men and women aged 45-69 had three or more risk factors for NCDs.

conclusionsThe prevalence of risk factors for NCDs was notably high in oPt. These results underscore the urgent need for interventions to reduce the imminent burden of NCDs within this vulnerable population. The worsening crisis in Gaza demands immediate action. Unified and decisive global efforts are essential to halt the war in Gaza, secure a permanent ceasefire, and ensure access to humanitarian aid. While rebuilding the healthcare system will be a long-term undertaking, empowering local professionals, investing in essential infrastructure, and providing sustained support can offer renewed hope to patients with NCDs.

Indexed as

ArabsEpidemicsNoncommunicable DiseasesAdolescentAdultAgedFemaleHealth SurveysHumansMaleMiddle AgedMiddle EastObesityPrevalenceRisk FactorsSmokingCardiovascular disease riskGazaNoncommunicable diseasesOccupied Palestinian territorySmokingSTEPS

Identifiers

PMID40790734
PMCPMC12337375

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