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Chronic Diseases:The Worlds Leading Killer Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death in the world.Yet health experts say these conditions are often the most preventable.Chronic diseases include heart disease,stroke,cancer,diabetesand lung disorders. The WHO says chronic diseases now cause two-thirds of all deaths in the Asia-Pacific area.In ten years it could be almost three-fourths.People are getting sick in their most economically productive years.In fact,experts say chronic diseases are killing more middle-aged people in poorer countries than in wealthier ones Kim Hak-Su is the head of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.Last ween in Bangkok he presented a WHO report on the problem.It says deaths from chronic diseases have increased largely as the result of economic gains in many countries. Mister Kim says infectious and parasiticdiseases have until recently been the main killers in Asia and the Pacific.But he says they are no longer the major cause of death in most countries. UN officials aim through international action to reduce chronic-disease deaths by two percent each year through two thousand fifteen.They say meeting that target could save thirty-six million lives.That includes twenty-five million in Asia and the Pacific. 1.How many people in developing countries will probably die of chronic diseases by 2015? | 
