A survey released in Beijing Thursday said that non-communicable chronic disease has become the major health problem among China's urban dwellers.

"Compared with the disease patterns in 1993 and 1998, the incidence of diseases concerning respiratory system and digestive system, as well as infectious diseases and skin diseases have been on rise," noted the survey, which was conducted by China's Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, diseases of the circulation system, the muscular and skeletal system and the endocrine and nutrition metabolism diseases increased, the survey said.

It said the diseases of the circulation system are the most common, especially hypertension, diabetes and cerebrovascular diseases.

In addition, the survey said the rural population are faced with the dual burden of infectious diseases and chronic diseases.

During the past decade, shows the survey, the infectious disease incidence in the rural areas decreased from 5.7 percent to 2.7 percent.

The common health problems are mainly inflammatory diseases related to respiratory, digestive and urinary systems, it said.

Meanwhile, the prevalence of some chronic diseases such as those associated with circulation and muscular and skeletal systems increased significantly in the rural areas.

According to the Health Ministry, the survey was conducted during September and October of 2003 and covered 57,000 households.