Brian Jeffrey
In Vietnam, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart issues, chronic respiratory illnesses, cancers, and diabetes, are responsible for nearly 80% of deaths, creating notable challenges for public health and healthcare infrastructure.
Worldwide, NCDs result in about 41 million deaths each year. Within Vietnam, these diseases cause over 70% of total fatalities, with 41.5% of those being people under 70 years old. They account for 73.7% of the national disease burden and mortality, with cardiovascular diseases being the primary contributor at 20.5%, followed by cancer (13.3%), chronic respiratory diseases (4%), and diabetes (3.9%).
Heart Conditions
Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, heart diseases continued to be the top cause of death in Vietnam. The Ministry of Health reported around 200,000 deaths related to these conditions each year, comprising 33% of total deaths.
Hypertension impacts nearly 25% of adults, translating to one out of four individuals. This condition significantly increases the likelihood of death from stroke (by four times) and heart diseases (by three times). Alarmingly, the rate of cardiovascular deaths is rising in low-income nations.
Cancer
GLOBOCAN 2022 statistics indicate that Vietnam recorded 180,480 new cancer diagnoses and over 120,000 deaths. The nation ranks 20th in Asia for cancer rates and 101st worldwide.
For men, the most prevalent cancers are liver cancer (19.7%), lung cancer (17.7%), and stomach cancer (11%). Among women, breast cancer is the most common at 28.9%, followed by lung cancer (8.7%) and colorectal cancer (8.7%).
Chronic Respiratory Illnesses
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranks as the third leading cause of death globally. Vietnam has the highest rate of moderate to severe COPD in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to the Ministry of Health, COPD results in over 25,000 deaths per year in Vietnam. A collaborative survey by the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the General Statistics Office found that 3.1% of adults aged 18 to 69 have been diagnosed with COPD.
Diabetes
About 7.1% of adults in Vietnam, or nearly 5 million people, are affected by diabetes. This figure is expected to increase significantly in the coming years, both locally and globally.
Diabetes is a major cause of disability and early mortality, leading to complications such as blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, and severe foot ulcers that may require amputation. More than 55% of those with diabetes in Vietnam experience complications, including cardiovascular issues (34%), eye and nerve damage (39.5%), and kidney problems (24%).
The growing incidence of NCDs in Vietnam highlights a pressing need for effective prevention, timely detection, and management approaches. These illnesses not only incur substantial healthcare expenses but also diminish the quality of life for countless individuals and their families.
