Southeast Asia facing epidemic of non-communicable diseases

Countries in Southeast Asia are now facing an epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which are already responsible for 60 percent of deaths in the region, an international study showed.

“Disadvantaged populations are the hardest hit, with death rates inversely proportional to a country’s gross national income. Families shoulder the financial burdens but entire economies suffer as well. Although attempts to control non-communicable diseases are increasing, more needs to be done,” the survey revealed.

The study was done by international health experts that include Filipino doctor Dr. Antonio Dans, a professor at the UP College of Medicine and president of Adult Medical Research Unit and the Asia Pacific Center for Evidence-Based Medicine.

Funded by China Medical Board, the Rockefeller Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies, the study was published in The Lancet, an international publication that prints best research works in the field of medicine.

According to the study, “an epidemic rise” in chronic NCDs like heart disease, stroke, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in Southeast Asia “threatens the rapidly growing population of almost 600 million people in the region,” most of whom are younger than 65 years old and are within the most productive years of their lives.

“Many have insufficient resources to deal with chronic illness and premature death — a situation that threatens not only families but also entire economies. Urgent action is needed,” it said.

Citing the Global Burden of Disease Projection, the study noted that some 2.6 million people from the 10 ASEAN countries died from chronic NCDs in 2005, accounting for nearly 61.5 percent of the total deaths in these nations.

“With the ageing of these populations and increasing exposure to risk factors for NCDs, the numbers are projected to increase to 4.2 million deaths in 2030,” the study showed. But what is alarming is that these diseases accounted for 51 percent of deaths among people aged 15 to 59 years.

It is estimated that some $ 7 billion would be lost between 2006 to 2015 because of NCDs in the Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

“Three major behavioral risk factors that predict NCDs are tobacco use, inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables, and insufficient physical activity. These risk factors are modifiable and are amenable to cost-effective population-wide interventions,” the study added.

But of these three risk factors, the study pointed to smoking as the “single most important cause of death and disability from NCDs.”

“Countries in Southeast Asia have spent very little resources addressing the major health and development issue of chronic NCDs. A health crisis is transpiring right before our eyes. Unless nations recognize the problem and take appropriate actions, premature death and disability will continue, hindering development where development is needed most. Inaction affects millions of lives — and often, we are speaking of the lives of people who have the least,” the study showed.

In an interview, Dr. Anthony Leachon, a cardiologist and a consultant for NCDs at the Department of Health, said tobacco use is supposedly the “most easiest” to address as proven in countries like Thailand and Singapore.

Leachon noted that people could be discouraged from smoking if the prices of cigarettes will be increased and by having graphic health warning on cigarette packs.

He added that in the Philippines, raising tobacco taxes would not only save more lives but would also mean more budget for the universal health care.