Issue Rising social burden of non-communicable diseases

Summary

Life expectancy in Korea has risen steadily, but part of that lifetime is spent in ill health, and non-communicable diseases account for most deaths. The socio-economic cost of these diseases is expected to grow, with health insurance spending rising as the older population expands and the climate crisis worsening illness and hastening premature death among patients. Globally, most preventable deaths from these diseases are linked to smoking, drinking, high blood pressure, diet, obesity and inactivity, and many others could be delayed through timely diagnosis and good treatment, while COVID-19 set back policy goals. Heatwaves strain people with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions and fine dust promotes inflammation that aggravates chronic illness, and both are managed as legal disasters in Korea. AI and IoT chronic-care services are spreading, but institutional, cost and user-capability barriers limit their effect, so the survey calls for stronger prevention and management that address social and environmental risk factors.