Healthy Ageing: Asia Pacific Faces Growing Chronic Disease Burden

KUALA LUMPUR: Healthy Ageing is emerging as a major public health priority across Asia Pacific, where nearly 1.3 billion people are expected to be aged over 60 by 2050. Health experts warn that longer life expectancy must be accompanied by stronger disease prevention, earlier diagnosis and improved treatment to ensure people remain healthy and independent for longer.

Although people across the region are living longer than ever before, the growing burden of chronic diseases is raising concerns about whether those additional years will be spent in good health.

Cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer are placing increasing pressure on healthcare systems, families and national economies, prompting experts to call for a fundamental shift towards prevention, early diagnosis and more sustainable healthcare models.

The urgency is particularly evident in the region’s stroke burden. Asia accounted for approximately 61% of global stroke deaths in 2020, representing around 4.1 million lives lost. Without stronger preventive measures, the proportion could rise to 69%, or approximately 6.6 million deaths annually, by 2050.

Bayer highlighted the need to rethink healthcare priorities during Longer Lives, Better Years: Reimagining Healthcare for Asia Pacific, a media event held alongside the Silver Economy Forum 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Simon Rosof, Head of Asia Pacific Region at Bayer Pharmaceuticals, said the region’s rapid demographic transformation required healthcare systems to move beyond treating diseases only after they had become serious.

He said longer life expectancy must be matched by healthier lives, stressing the importance of adapting healthcare systems to the region’s changing population needs.

Rising life expectancy does not necessarily mean people are spending more years in good health. Research published in The Lancet Public Health in July 2026 found that people worldwide now spend an average of 10.7 years in poor health, compared with 8.8 years in 1990.

The findings highlight the widening gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, with millions of people spending an increasing proportion of their later years managing illness and disability.

Across Asia Pacific, people reaching the age of 60 can expect to spend almost five years of their remaining lives dealing with disease and disability. Heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer account for nearly nine in 10 deaths in the Western Pacific Region, with many underlying risk factors developing silently over several years.

Malaysia illustrates the scale of the challenge. The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 found that approximately one in three adults has high cholesterol, while more than half of those affected are unaware of their condition.

Dr Maria Borentain, Global Vice President and Head of Cardiovascular and Renal Clinical Development at Bayer, said the challenge of an ageing society was not simply extending lifespan but ensuring people remained healthy and independent for longer.

She highlighted the importance of earlier diagnosis and stroke prevention in helping people remain active, avoid hospitalisation and maintain their independence.

Stroke remains one of Asia’s most pressing public health challenges. One in four adults worldwide is expected to experience a stroke during their lifetime, while high blood pressure remains the leading risk factor across Asia, followed by diabetes.

The impact also extends beyond older populations. In Malaysia, approximately 40% of stroke patients are under the age of 60, meaning many are still working and supporting their families when the condition occurs.

Stroke survivors also face a considerable risk of recurrence, with an estimated 10% to 16% experiencing another stroke within a year.

The economic implications of ageing and chronic diseases were another major focus of the Silver Economy Forum 2026. As populations grow older and birth rates decline, countries across Asia are facing challenges involving workforce participation, retirement security, pension sustainability and the long-term affordability of care.

Stroke alone is estimated to cost the global economy more than $890 billion annually, with the figure projected to reach $2.31 trillion by 2050.

In Malaysia, the annual economic burden of non-communicable diseases is estimated at RM64.2 billion, equivalent to approximately 4.2% of gross domestic product. Around 80% of these costs are attributed to lost productivity rather than direct healthcare expenditure.

Michael Hodin, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Coalition on Ageing, stressed that governments should recognise healthy ageing as an investment in economic development rather than an issue limited to healthcare budgets.

During the forum’s two-day programme, participants discussed how countries could redesign existing systems to address the realities of longer lives. Speakers emphasised the need to shift from reactive healthcare towards prevention throughout people’s lives.

Discussions also highlighted the importance of collaboration between health and finance ministries to ensure preventive programmes receive sustained investment.

The forum examined the growing importance of the care economy, including stronger connections between housing, primary healthcare, hospitals and social support services.

Age-inclusive cities and workplaces were also identified as important investments. Walkable neighbourhoods, accessible transport, inclusive employment policies and technologies that support older workers could help sustain economic participation as populations age.

To address the growing burden of chronic diseases, panellists at Bayer’s media event identified four key priorities.

These include strengthening early detection through routine health checks, particularly from midlife, with monitoring of blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and kidney function to identify risks before serious complications develop.

They also called for better access to effective treatment, regular follow-up and continued care for people already living with chronic conditions to help them maintain their independence.

Another priority is recognising prevention as an economic investment by weighing the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment against the wider costs of chronic diseases, including lost productivity, rather than considering healthcare expenditure alone.

Finally, speakers emphasised stronger collaboration among governments, industry, healthcare professionals and community organisations. Governments can establish policy frameworks, industry can contribute scientific innovation, while clinicians and community groups can help build patient trust.

The discussions underscored that preparing for longer lives will require coordinated action across healthcare, finance, workplaces and communities to ensure that longer life expectancy also translates into healthier and more productive years.