Cluster analysis of non-communicable disease burden, prevention and management across EU27+2 countries

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and disability in countries across the 27 European Union (EU) Member States, Norway and Iceland (EU27+2) and in the OECD. While all countries are impacted by NCDs, there are substantial cross-country differences in the current burden of NCDs, the contribution of individual risk factors, and the outcomes of prevention and management efforts. Identifying countries with similar NCD profiles, including disease burden, risk exposure and management efforts, can serve as a foundation for meaningful collaboration, employing shared strategies tailored to comparable contexts. The paper finds that countries can be clustered into seven distinct groups of countries within the EU27+2, each with a unique NCD profile. In addition, the remaining 14 OECD countries were grouped, providing a broader international benchmark with corresponding comparative analysis. These clusters can help inform collaborative cross-country work to address shared priorities, for example through mechanisms such as the sharing of best practices in public health and, within the EU, Joint Action Projects and Technical Support Instruments (TSIs).