Kronis Respiratory Disease Becomes A Serious Threat, Asia Is In The Red Zone

Illustration of respiratory disease. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - chronic respiratory disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PPOK), and lung disorders due to work are health problems that are increasingly emerging globally.

Risk factors such as air pollution, smoking habits, and exposure to harmful materials in the work environment exacerbated this condition, especially in densely populated areas such as Asia.

President Director of AstraZeneca Indonesia, Esra Erkomay revealed that Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania are in second highest position in the world regarding the death rate and the loss of life from chronic lung disease.

The time range from 1980 to 2020 recorded this area as one of the areas with the highest early death rate due to exposure to air fine particles (PM2.5).

Citing ANTARA, chronic respiratory disease, or CHronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD), continues to increase the number of sufferers. Data in 2021 shows that nearly 470 million people worldwide live with CRD, and about 4.5 million deaths each year are caused by this disease. In Asia alone, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Singapore, more than 65 million people are affected.

Unfortunately, even though the burden of the disease is large, the handling of CRD is still not a top priority in national and regional health policies. The lack of comprehensive intervention makes people vulnerable to complications that should have been prevented.

In Indonesia, similar trends are also seen. In 2021, the prevalence of asthma was recorded at 2.35 percent, COPD at 1.88 percent, and the total prevalence of CRD reached 4.19 percent. This shows the need for more concrete actions to prevent, detect, and manage these diseases in a sustainable manner.

Esra emphasized the importance of cross-sectoral approaches in dealing with chronic respiratory diseases, particularly in relation to air pollution and the impact of climate change. There is a need for collaboration between the health, environmental and development sectors to comprehensively address CRD," he said.

As a strategic partner of the government, AstraZeneca Indonesia also encourages the implementation of the 2025 edition of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. The company is also active in increasing the capacity of health workers, disseminating correct information to the public, and expanding access to therapy for people with asthma and COPD.