Overview

• A study using Global Burden of Disease 2021 data reveals a 3.79% annual increase in ischemic heart disease prevalence in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania from 1990 to 2021.
• East Asia experienced the highest cumulative burden, with rising heart disease incidence among those under 70 and increased mortality among those over 70.
• Oceania recorded the highest 2021 mortality rate—170.9 deaths per 100,000 people—primarily due to ultra-processed food consumption displacing traditional diets.
• Air pollution in East Asia and dietary shifts toward processed foods in Oceania are identified as key, modifiable risk factors driving the crisis.
• The study emphasizes the need for localized policies, such as air quality regulation and food system reforms, to address the regionally distinct drivers of cardiovascular disease.