Perspectives on cardiovascular longevity and economic prosperity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Cardiovascular disease is rapidly rising across ASEAN due to urbanization, ageing, and widespread risk factors, worsening health inequalities and economic burden. A shift toward preventive, life-course cardiovascular care is needed, supported by technologies like AI-enabled assessment and a strong investment focus on preventative measures specific to ASEAN populations. Singapore’s Healthier SG initiatives, including institution-based platforms like CRANE, demonstrate how preventive investment strengthens health and economic resilience. This perspective posits that scaling such strategies across ASEAN can improve cardiovascular longevity, equity, and sustainable growth. Besides, a uniform effort on CVD can foster collective capacity-building, harmonized policy alignment, and sustainable economic growth. Overall, reframing cardiovascular prevention as a policy agenda and investment in human capital positions ASEAN to achieve enduring cardiovascular longevity, health equity, and shared prosperity for future generations.