Non-pharmacological interventions for prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases with experiences from China

Non-communicable diseases tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioural factors. Non-communicable diseases take an immense and increasing toll on lives, livelihoods, health systems, communities, economies, and societies.1 Pharmacological interventions use drugs for the prevention and treatment of diseases. However, overdiagnosis and overtreatment of non-communicable diseases, and related over-reliance on and overuse of drugs and medical devices, are important contributors to the high burden of non-communicable diseases.12 Risk factor reduction is an important strategy to control non-communicable diseases. Non-pharmacological interventions are science based, non-invasive interventions for human health that include lifestyle modification, psychological adjustment, and self-management education for patients.3 Effective non-pharmacological interventions can prevent and control non-communicable diseases and reduce their burden, as evidenced by the successful practices of many countries, including China. However, the complementary relation between non-pharmacological interventions and drugs is still not widely recognised and applied in clinical practice, and the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions against non-communicable diseases is often underestimated and underappreciated by patients and clinicians.