Chronic respiratory disease burden is rising sharply in the WHO Western Pacific Region, with a 65.5% increase in prevalence since 1990, driven primarily by population growth and aging rather than worsening disease rates. In 2023, the region recorded 1.4 million deaths and 29.9 million disability-adjusted life years from chronic respiratory diseases, with COPD accounting for over 75% of the burden.
- The WHO Western Pacific Region encompasses 37 countries and territories experiencing significant increases in chronic respiratory disease burden
- Since 1990, the region has seen 65.5% increase in prevalence, 59.1% increase in deaths, and 35.2% increase in DALYs from chronic respiratory diseases
- COPD dominates the disease burden, accounting for 75.3% of disability-adjusted life years in 2023
- In 2023, chronic respiratory diseases caused 1.4 million deaths and 29.9 million DALYs across the region
- Recommended strategies include sustained tobacco control, cleaner air policies, stronger occupational protection, and earlier detection of chronic respiratory conditions
The burden of chronic respiratory disease (CRD) is on the rise in the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Western Pacific Region, which is comprised of 37 countries and territories.
The complete analysis is detailed in the paper, “Chronic Respiratory Diseases in the 2023-Defined WHO Western Pacific Region: Burdens and Trends From GBD 2023,” published in Med Research.
According to a press release from the International Society for Data Science, the study examined incidence, prevalence, deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized rate, disease subtypes and selected modifiable risk factors using the 2023 Global Burden of Disease study.
The researchers found that, compared with data from 1990, the 2023 burden of CRD increased sharply with age, remained higher in males, and was dominated by COPD, which accounted for 75.3% of DALYs. Although age-standardized mortality and DALY rates declined substantially, the overall burden continue to rise. The researchers wrote that this reflected population growth and aging in those regions.
The researchers said the WHO Western Pacific Region was worthy of scrutiny because, over the past few decades, the region has experienced sweeping demographic and epidemiological changes. These include a rapidly aging population, accelerated urbanization and shifting patterns in tobacco use, air pollution and occupational exposure.
In 2023, CRDs in the region accounted for 22 million incident causes, 155.9 million prevalent cases, 1.4 million deaths, and 29.9 million DALYs. Compared with 1990, that represents a 23.8% increase in incidence, a 65.5% increase in prevalence, a 59.1% increase in deaths and a 35.2% increase in DALYs. Age-standardized rates, meanwhile, were either stable or lower.
“This divergence indicates that the increase in absolute burden should be interpreted mainly as a demographic and health system burden driven by population growth and aging, rather than as evidence of worsening age-standardized risk across all outcomes,” the authors wrote.
The researchers concluded that these findings suggest that respiratory health strategies in the Western Pacific Region should be combined with efforts like sustained tobacco control, cleaner air, stronger occupational protection, earlier detection and long-term management of chronic respiratory conditions.
