Ukraine launches new STEPS study on noncommunicable disease risk factors
Ukraine is launching a new STEPS survey on risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which will provide up-to-date data on the prevalence of key NCD risk factors.
Speaking at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday, Tetiana Skapa, Director of the Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health, said the new study will continue monitoring the health status of Ukrainians following the first STEPS round conducted in 2019.
"Conducting a new STEPS round in Ukraine is critically important. Updated data will allow us to more accurately define priorities, adjust day-to-day work, and implement solutions that truly work. One such solution is the national 'Health Screening 40+' program, which is already helping thousands of Ukrainians take care of their health and respond to risks in a timely manner," she said.
In turn, WHO Representative in Ukraine Dr. Jarno Habicht said that the study is conducted according to WHO's standardized methodology and is part of a global monitoring system covering more than 130 countries worldwide.
Habicht noted that, according to 2016 data, one in three people in Ukraine smoked, nearly 60% were overweight, and one in three suffered from high blood pressure.
"In 2026, we are launching a new phase of data collection. We will obtain the most up-to-date data on the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases and related risk factors, and will also be able to assess the impact of the war and pandemics on public health. Today marks more than 1,500 days since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and I hope that through this study we will better understand how it has affected the health of Ukrainians," he said.
For her part, Tetiana Bondar, Director of the NGO Ukrainian Institute for Social Research named after Oleksandr Yaremenko, said that the study methodology provides for a comprehensive assessment of population health consisting of three stages: a survey on behavioral risk factors, physical measurements (including blood pressure and body weight), and laboratory testing of key health indicators. STEPS follows a standardized approach that ensures reliable and representative results.
"It is precisely this quality of data that forms the basis for further analysis and informed decision-making in the field of public health," Bondar said.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Kurpita, Director of the Public Health Center, said that the STEPS study, which will make it possible to understand how behavioral risk factors, access to preventive services, and the needs of different population groups have changed since 2019, is "an essential foundation for decisions that will help the healthcare system respond more accurately to challenges and provide people with the necessary services even under the most difficult conditions."
"Ukraine is facing an epidemic of noncommunicable diseases, which primarily cause premature mortality, including among men. And given that we are now living through a war, with it constantly present in our lives, it is very important to understand which habits, factors, and behavioral patterns of Ukrainians may influence state policy regarding access to medical services," he said.
Kurpita said that, according to the 2019 study, "nearly 33% of Ukrainians had between three and five risk factors simultaneously, which in combination lead to the development of noncommunicable diseases."
"Among men, these habits are more prevalent; among women, they are somewhat lower, but both women and men suffer from these harmful behaviors. These factors accumulate over time. It is very important that when we formulate proposals for the Ministry of Health, we understand how to address specific risk factors," he added.
Kurpita said that the STEPS study includes questions related to lifestyle and identification of habits, as well as "the determination of certain health biomarkers, including blood tests to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or kidney pathology."
"Studies of this type can identify changes associated with the war: to what extent the chronic stress we experience affects our ability to control habits or lifestyle, how the war influences dietary patterns, and possibly access to preventive and medical services. Even such basic factors as seven hours of sleep, which has become a dream for many Ukrainians, or physical activity are key recommendations that can influence the development of noncommunicable diseases," he said.
The target group for the STEPS study is the adult population of Ukraine aged 18–69. The geographic coverage includes all of Ukraine except territories not under government control. The sample size is 3,900 respondents, and the study is conducted through face-to-face interviews at respondents' places of residence.
The first results of the study are expected by the end of 2026.
The study includes a survey to identify behavioral risk factors and medical history related to NCDs, physical measurements (body weight and height, waist and hip circumference) using specialized equipment, blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, as well as measurement of biochemical blood indicators.
