Cardiovascular Diseases Claim Over 19.8M Lives Annually, Myanmar Health Ministry Warns

Over 19.8 million people die each year from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) worldwide—with heart attacks and strokes accounting for 85% of these fatalities—said Myanmar’s Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr. Aye Tun, at the World Heart Day 2026 event on September 29.

Citing national data, Dr. Aye Tun highlighted that 24.4% of Myanmar adults suffer from hypertension, and over 13% of people aged 40 to 69 have CVDs, facing a high risk of worsening conditions within the next decade. Promoting this year’s theme, "Don't Miss A Beat," he urged the public to recognize early symptoms, adopt healthy lifestyles, and undergo regular screenings to combat premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

To curb CVD mortality, the Ministry of Health is rolling out its 2023–2027 National Strategic Plan for NCD Prevention and Control. Measures include operating weekly NCD screening clinics down to rural health centers, with essential medicines supplied free of charge, equipping all public hospitals with 200 beds or more with specialist-led cardiac intensive care units and oroviding continuous medical training for primary healthcare workers.

To mark the occasion, public hospitals across Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, and Mandalay screened over 900 patients using AI ECG vests to identify and assess heart conditions early.