New research indicates a significant increase in cardiovascular disease across South-east Asia over the past three decades. The condition has become the region’s primary cause of both mortality and morbidity.

In 2021, 37 million people in the region were affected by cardiovascular disease, resulting in 1.7 million deaths, according to the study.

The findings, from researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IMHE) and the National University of singapore (NUS), are based on an analysis of health data spanning from 1990 to 2021. The data encompasses the 10 South-east Asian countries that constitute the Asean grouping.

Published in a special edition of The Lancet Public Health, the results underscore the increasing burden of public health issues. These include cardiovascular disease, mental disorders, smoking, and injuries sustained in road accidents.

Key factors contributing to cardiovascular disease include high systolic blood pressure, dietary risks, air pollution, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and tobacco use.

Dr. Marie Ng, the lead author of the study and an affiliate associate professor at IMHE and associate professor at NUS, noted that the aging population in the region also contributes to the rise in cases.

Urgent Action Needed to Combat Preventable Health Conditions

“Without immediate action from each of the countries,these preventable health conditions will worsen causing more death and disability across Asean,” said Dr. Ng, emphasizing the need for governments to allocate resources appropriately.

“Without immediate action from each of the countries, these preventable health conditions will worsen causing more death and disability across Asean.”

Notably,the Covid-19 pandemic saw a higher-than-predicted increase in cardiovascular disease-related deaths. A separate 2023 study also highlighted the potential for increased cardiovascular disease risk in children born to mothers who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy.

The study in The Lancet Public Health also revealed that over 80 million people in asean experienced major mental disorders, a 70 percent increase since 1990.

among specific age groups, 15 to 19-year-olds showed the most significant increase in prevalence, at nearly 11 percent.

Smoking and Injuries: Other Key Findings

Smoking remains a significant public health concern. As 1990,the number of smokers has risen in every Asean country,with the total number increasing by 63 percent to 137 million,even as smoking prevalence has declined. Tobacco smoking accounted for approximately 11 percent of all deaths across the region, with death rates varying from less than 70 per 100,000 males in Singapore to over five times higher in Cambodia.

Injuries resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths in 2021 across South-east Asia. Road accidents were the leading cause in most countries, followed by falls, self-harm, drowning, and interpersonal violence. Thailand reported particularly high rates of road injuries, with 30 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, compared to a global average of 15 per 100,000.