A recent study has revealed a significant increase in cardiovascular diseases throughout the area over the past few years. Experts assert that prompt measures must be taken.
Over the last thirty years, the number of individuals affected by cardiovascular diseases has risen by 148 percent in Southeast Asia, making these conditions the primary causes of death and illness in the area, as indicated by recent studies.
In 2021, approximately 37 million individuals in the region were affected by cardiovascular diseases, resulting in about 1.7 million deaths. These conclusions were drawn by investigators from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation located in Seattle and the National University of Singapore through an examination of health statistics gathered over two decades—from 1990 to 2021—across ten Southeast Asian nations constituting
Asean
bloc.
This week’s issue of The Lancet Public Health, which focuses specifically on the region, brings attention to escalating public health issues such as cardiovascular diseases, mental illnesses, smoking habits, and traffic accidents. Key contributors to cardiovascular problems include elevated systolic blood pressure, poor diet, polluted air, increased levels of low-density lipoproteins, and tobacco consumption.
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According to Marie Ng, the lead author and an affiliate associate professor at IHME as well as an associate professor at NUS, the rising number of elderly people in the area is also a significant factor behind the surge in cases.
“Unless swift actions are taken promptly by all nations within ASEAN, these avoidable health issues will escalate, resulting in increased fatalities and disabilities,” warned Ng, emphasizing the necessity for adequate resource distribution by governmental bodies.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of fatalities caused by cardiovascular diseases increased beyond expectations, and a distinct study published in 2023 highlighted an elevated risk for future development of cardiovascular issues among offspring whose mothers were infected with Covid during their pregnancies.
According to a recent study in The Lancet Public Health, over 80 million individuals across the ASEAN member nations were affected by significant mental health issues, which is about 70% higher compared to figures from 1990. Analyzing these statistics by age reveals that those aged between 15 and 19 experienced the most dramatic increase, with rates climbing almost 11%.
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The article initially appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), which is the premier source for news coverage of China and Asia.
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