SINGAPORE -- As the global health landscape undergoes a seismic shift, one condition is quietly, yet relentlessly, asserting itself as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region—cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The silent epidemic of CVD in Asia is not just a matter of individual health but an urgent public health crisis that could disrupt economies, strain healthcare systems, and tear the social fabric of nations.

Urbanization, aging populations, and a surge in lifestyle-related risk factors, such as obesity, smoking, and sedentary behaviors, have contributed to this troubling trend.

The region's distinct socio-economic diversity and health disparities further exacerbate the problem. In high-income nations like Korea, Japan, and Singapore, aging populations grapple with a surge in CVDs. At the same time, in emerging economies, such as Thailand and Indonesia, a dual burden exists with infectious diseases and a dramatic rise in CVD.

In a recent interview with Korea Biomedical Review, Timothy Fang, APAC CVD Alliance Program Lead at ACCESS Health International, shared his expertise in this increasingly vital issue.

"ACCESS Health International, a nonprofit global health organization acting as the secretariat for the APAC CVD Alliance, is an organization fueled by the desire to bring healthcare within reach of marginalized and underprivileged populations," Fang said. "Our focus spans the healthcare spectrum, addressing issues like health financing, promotion and digital health."

He added that the goal is to bridge the gaps and ensure everyone has access to the care they need.

Fang stressed that the Alliance focuses on non-communicable diseases, especially CVD, as the illness is rapidly becoming a severe problem in Asia due to the region's fast-paced urbanization.

Fang revealed alarming data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, showing increased non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, over the past decade.

"Asia's socio-economic landscape is diverse," Fang noted, emphasizing the distinct disparities among the nations regarding income and healthcare requirements.

"While we have high-income countries like Korea, Singapore, and Japan, we also have lower-income countries like Cambodia and Myanmar. However, a common pattern emerging across this diverse spectrum is the alarming increase in CVDs," he said.

He added that this dramatic surge in CVD incidence and its resulting mortality rate has outstripped many other diseases.

To illustrate the gravity of the situation, Fang drew a comparison between malaria and tuberculosis.

"When you look at the damage inflicted by these diseases, they seem almost insignificant when put side-by-side with the consequences of CVD," he said.

Recognizing the dire need to combat this rising trend, the APAC CVD Alliance was established, he noted.

Fang stressed that cooperation between different stakeholders, including patient advocacy groups, academia, nonprofits, philanthropy, multilateral organizations and industry, is critical as one entity cannot solve these challenges.

"The alliance aims to serve as a platform for illuminating the gaps in various health systems and advocating for comprehensive policy changes and healthcare reforms," he said. "The alliance is not just a platform but a catalyst, mobilizing regional resources to provide localized solutions that support policymaking."

Notably, Fang stressed that the discussion on managing CVD couldn't be focused on treatment alone as only focusing on treatment will help patients with heart diseases.

"The alliance wants to also address the whole care continuum from prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, step down care," he said. "Therefore, the alliance aims to find a way to mobilize resources as a region so that we can provide these in-country solutions that support policymaking to address every step of CVD."

APAC CVD Alliance to publish white paper

To map out the current state of CVD across the APAC region, the alliance is presently working on a white paper due to be published in the third quarter.

"This paper will identify regional gaps and make recommendations tailored to different income levels and specific country requirements," he said. "It is important to note that the white paper is more of a starting point for further discussion and is by no means the end of the conversation."

The alliance also aims to establish country chapters in Malaysia and Thailand soon, with plans for seven additional countries—Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

The long-term goal of the alliance is aligned with sustainable development goal 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030.

Fang noted that encouraging sustainable and scalable innovations is essential to reach this goal.

"These could encompass new policies, models of care, or products and services," he said.

Asked how the alliance plans to raise public and policy awareness on tackling CVD, Fang replied that they plan to engage in regional forums like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The alliance also aims to build a neutral platform where the different country chapters can interact, share viewpoints, and exchange innovative ideas.

"A patient-centered approach, addressing the entire care continuum, is at the heart of our strategy," Fang shared. "It's essential to understand that a patient's journey with CVD isn't isolated as patients often grapple with other co-morbidities like diabetes or chronic kidney disease."

Fang also shared about the critical roles played by strategic and corporate partners.

At present, strategic partners include organizations like Global Alliance For Patient Access, Global Heart Hub, Asia Pacific Federation for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Faculty of Medicine in Malaysia, and corporate partners include Amgen, Novartis, and Roche Diagnostics.

"Strategic partners provide input, expertise, and leadership, while corporate partners provide some funding for the secretariat's operating expenses and could potentially support some of the activities in individual countries in the future," he said. "We encourage more public-private partnerships and collaboration because it is fundamental to health systems in Asia."

APAC CVD Alliance looks to expand partnerships

Fang invited potential partners, stressing the benefits of collaborating with the alliance.

"For patient groups, the benefit lies in policy awareness and potential change at the policy level," he said. "Corporate partners can elevate their work at a regional level and collaborate in an interdisciplinary way, and academia can translate their work into something understandable by the public and general policymakers."

Notably, for academia, we can help expand conversations outside of academic journals to the broader public.

From the government side, Fang said the alliance aims to support them in their policymaking process and help them understand that a diagnosis of CVD is not the end and doesn't have to be such a burden, both physically and financially.