Top causes of death and disability hound ASEAN’s public health crisis – study
Mental illness, cardiovascular disease, tobacco use, and injuries are now among the leading causes of death and disability in Southeast Asia, according to newly released research from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and the National University of Singapore. The data, published on May 27 in The Lancet Public Health, offers a detailed look at health trends across all 10 ASEAN countries from 1990 to 2021 and reveals dramatic increases in disease burden across multiple risk factors and age groups. The research is part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, the most comprehensive assessment of health trends and risk factors across all ages, sexes, and 204 countries from 1990 to 2021.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. As of 2024, ASEAN countries have a combined population of 678 million, making it the third most populous region in the world.
Mental disorders rising sharply
More than 80 million people across ASEAN are currently living with mental disorders—an increase of 70% since 1990. Anxiety disorders were the most common, and the mental health burden has grown most among children, teenagers, elderly individuals, and women. The 15–19 age group experienced the sharpest rise in prevalence, and among adolescents aged 10–19, mental disorders now account for more than a quarter of the overall disease burden in high-income ASEAN countries. Singapore recorded the highest rates of burden in this age group. Although prevalence increased by less than 3% among people aged 70 and older, the number of older adults affected jumped by 183% in absolute terms.
Heart disease is the top killer
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now the leading cause of death and disability in ASEAN, with 37 million people affected and 1.7 million deaths recorded in 2021. From 1990 to 2021, cases rose by 148%, while prevalence saw a 3% increase. Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia reported CVD death rates above the global average. Men had higher rates of both disease and mortality than women. Ischemic heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease were the most common forms. Top contributing risks included high blood pressure, poor diet, air pollution, and smoking.
Tobacco Use Remains Widespread
Despite some progress in reducing smoking rates, the number of smokers in ASEAN increased by 63% since 1990, reaching 137 million in 2021—roughly 12% of global smokers. Smoking is highly prevalent among males, with nearly half of adult men smoking across the region and 58% in Indonesia. Youth smoking is on the rise, particularly in Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Alarmingly, in Malaysia, 20% of boys aged 10–14 smoke. Smoking-related illnesses led to over half a million deaths in 2021—an increase of 231,000 since 1990—with ischemic heart disease, stroke, and chronic lung disease as the top causes.
Injuries, accidents, and violence
Accidental and intentional injuries continue to cause high levels of death and disability. Road injuries are the most common cause of injury-related deaths, especially in Thailand and Malaysia, where road fatalities are among the highest in the world. Falls, self-harm, drownings, and violence also pose significant health threats. Self-harm was the top injury-related cause of death in Singapore and a leading cause in several other countries. Children aged 5–9, especially girls, faced the highest burden from drowning and falls.
Researchers say without urgent intervention, these preventable causes of death and disability will only worsen as the region’s population ages and economies develop.
Category: Education, Top Story
