Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in Asian Countries, 1990-2021

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for a large and increasing health burden worldwide, as shown in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. However, there has been no comprehensive assessment of CVDs in Asia, which bears the largest population globally.

This study sought to evaluate the burden of CVD in Asia from 1990 to 2021.

Mortality, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) along with their age-standardized rates (ASRs) per 100,000 population from 1990 to 2021 were used to measure the CVDs burden. Further subanalyses were conducted based on age group and sex.

In 2021, CVDs caused an estimated 11.9 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 10.9-12.9 million deaths), 340.4 million prevalent cases (95% UI: 315.1-366.9 million prevalent cases), and 270.4 million DALYs (95% UI: 251.6-290.2 million DALYs). Although the ASR of prevalence slightly increased from 1990 to 2021 with a percentage change of 5.7% (95% UI: 3.9%-8.1%), the ASRs of death and DALYs were significantly decreased, with percentage changes of -28.2% (95% UI: -42.2% to -12.5%) and -37.8% (95% UI: -50.5% to -24.3%), respectively. The Asian burden of CVDs was higher in males and the elderly. The primary contributors to DALYs across Asia were ischemic heart disease, stroke, and hypertensive heart disease.

Burden of CVDs in Asia remains substantial. Certain populations, including males and the elderly, experienced a heavier burden of CVDs.