ABSTRACT
Cause distributions of deaths in the Asian region are important for understanding and assessing key determinants of trends in mortality and life expectancy, and in projecting future demographic trends. Causes of burden of disease are also important inputs to planning for public health and health services. This chapter examines trends and differentials in causes of death and burden of disease in Asia. It identifies groups of countries at different stages of the epidemiological transition. Their cause of death patterns and changes are examined in terms of absolute numbers of deaths, death rates and causal contributors to increases in life expectancy. Finally, projection results of future trends in causes of death for years up to 2050 are presented for the Asian region. The analyses presented here reinforce the importance of including non-fatal outcomes in a comprehensive assessment of Asian population health. The results also illustrate the ‘double burden’ of disease faced by the poorer developing countries of South Asia and Central Asia. Countries that are still struggling with ‘old’ and ‘new’ infectious disease epidemics must now also deal with the emerging epidemics of chronic non-communicable disease such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.
