Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41992534›Full record

ArticleHealth policy and planning2026

Assessing the progress in implementing population-based policies to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 2010-2024.

Anastasiya Dumcheva, Tiina Laatikainen, Ivo Rakovac, Jaakko Nevalainen, Pekka Nuorti

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health policy and planning, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

5 authors.

Anastasiya DumchevaHealth Sciences Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere 33014, Finland.ORCID 0000-0003-0939-3827
Tiina LaatikainenInstitute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 8, Kuopio 70210, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-6614-4782
Ivo RakovacUnit Head NCD Surveillance, Special Initiative on Noncommunicable Diseases and Innovation, WHO Regional Office for Europe, UN City, Marmorvej 51, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0002-6815-5274
Jaakko NevalainenHealth Sciences Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere 33014, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-6295-0245
Pekka NuortiHealth Sciences Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere 33014, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-8427-8004

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) remains high in twelve Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) countries-Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Although WHO-recommended 'Best Buys' offer effective strategies to reduce NCDs, their implementation in EECA remains poorly documented. We conducted a cross-country, retrospective analysis of the adoption and implementation of population-level NCD 'Best Buys' interventions targeting tobacco, alcohol, diet, and physical activity across EECA from 2010 (or earliest available year) to 2024 (or latest available year), aiming to identify progress, gaps, and priorities for action. Data were sourced from WHO NCD Country Capacity Surveys and other global databases and monitoring reports. A scoring system (0-1) captured implementation status, and spider charts and summary tables visualized trends over time. Tobacco control showed the most progress, with widespread adoption of taxation and graphic warnings. However, the implementation of smoke-free laws, cessation support, and media campaigns was inconsistent. Alcohol policies varied: most countries increased taxes and banned advertising, but gaps persisted in sales restrictions, health warnings, and treatment services. Adoption of nutrition policies remained inconsistent, with substantial gaps in food reformulation, labelling, fiscal tools, and education. Physical activity campaigns were common, but integration into healthcare systems was poorly documented. Disparities in implementation were observed across and within countries, in terms of the number and combination of 'Best Buys' strategies adopted. Despite some progress, major gaps remain in the implementation of population-level NCD 'Best Buys' across EECA. Greater prioritization of cost-effective tobacco, alcohol, nutrition, and physical activity strategies is needed. Subregional and country-level analyses of NCD 'Best Buys' implementation over time can help policymakers identify progress and gaps, guiding targeted, evidence-informed action to address shared behavioural risks and thereby prevent many NCDs and contribute to equitable and sustainable health outcomes.

Indexed as

Health PolicyNoncommunicable DiseasesAsia, CentralDietEurope, EasternExerciseHumansRetrospective StudiesTobacco Controlalcoholbest buysCentral AsiaEastern Europenoncommunicable diseasesnutritionphysical activitypoliciestobacco

Identifiers

PMID41992534
PMCPMC13276267

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.