Health policy implications for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and stroke in Central Asia: a decadal forecast of their impact on women of reproductive age.

INTRODUCTION

Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke are significant global health concerns. However, gaps persist in understanding the impact of these disorders on women of reproductive age in Central Asia. This study aimed to analyze the health policies implemented in Central Asian countries to address the healthcare needs of this demographic and to forecast future trends in prevalence rates.

METHODOLOGY

We forecasted future trends in prevalence rates, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life years for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke using publicly available data. Two data sources were utilized: health policy documents issued by the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, and data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Forecasting models, including ARIMA, were employed to predict trends until 2030.

RESULTS

The results indicate an anticipated increase in cardiovascular disease prevalence from 1856.55 in 2020 to 2007.07 by 2029 in Kazakhstan, a subtle increase in Kyrgyzstan from 2492.22 to 2558.69 over 10 years, and similar trends in other countries.

CONCLUSION

The analysis of policy documents revealed a lack of specific focus on addressing cardiovascular disease, stroke, or type 2 diabetes outside the contexts of pregnancy and childbirth. Understanding these trends is crucial for informing targeted health interventions and resource allocation to mitigate the impact of these diseases on women's health in Central Asia.