Major non-communicable diseases in Asia: Burden, epidemiological trends and projections, and future challenges

Abstract

The high burden and rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continue to be major contributors to disability and mortality across Asia amid rapid epidemiological transition. The aim of this review was to summarize the current burden of NCDs, as well as their trends and future projections, across the major disease groups in Asia, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and chronic kidney disease. Available evidence indicates that the burden of NCDs varies substantially across the region. By 2050, crude mortality from NCDs in Asia is projected to double, driven largely by population growth and demographic ageing. Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of NCD-related death, whereas diabetes and chronic kidney disease are the fastest-growing NCDs among younger populations. In addition, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases are expected to impose an increasingly substantial health and economic burden. Key drivers of the future NCD burden include population ageing, urbanization, lifestyle-related risk factors, environmental exposures, and inequities in access to health care. These trends highlight the urgent need for Asian health systems to respond through coordinated, evidence-based policy initiatives, with particular emphasis on strengthening primary health care, prevention, early detection, and sustainable financing to reduce the projected future burden of NCDs.