"Asia has more diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular patients than anywhere else in the world," Abrar Mir states, emphasizing the severity of the health crisis in the region.
She said the inclusion of dementia is particularly significant for lower-income countries, many of which are still in "denial" about the condition. Even in high-income countries where dementia gets attention, like the U.S., it has been a struggle to bring about the behavioral changes and medical interventions such as weight loss and better blood pressure control that could delay the onset of the condition. And, for many families dealing with dementia, finding adequate care and support is far from easy.
The chance of dying from chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes declined in four out of five countries between 2010 and 2019, finds a study of 185 countries published in The Lancet today. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death globally. The United Nations has set the goal of reducing deaths from these diseases by one-third by 2030. The latest study is the first to investigate the change in NCD mortality across countries.