Which statement best describes noncommunicable diseases?

• A. They cannot be transmitted from one person to another
• B. They are caused by infections
• C. They are best measured only by mortality
• D. They have short duration and rapid resolution

Answer: (A)

Noncommunicable diseases are defined by what they’re not and how they behave over time: they are not spread from one person to another and they typically have a long, chronic course. Because they aren’t transmitted between people, the statement that they cannot be transmitted best describes this group. Infections cause diseases that are communicable, so that alternative doesn’t fit NCDs. Measuring only mortality misses the broader impact, since many NCDs cause substantial morbidity and long-term disability. They also don’t have short duration with rapid resolution; they tend to persist for years or a lifetime. Examples include heart disease, diabetes, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and stroke.