Jakarta, Sept. 17 -- Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have officially endorsed a pioneering roadmap aimed at combating the rising burden of cardiovascular disease and bolstering economic resilience across the region.

The framework was launched during the Third APEC Senior Officials' Meeting by the APEC Health Working Group on Thursday.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of global mortality, claiming an estimated 19.8 million lives in 2022.

Health experts in the regional forum warned that demographic shifts-particularly population aging-alongside surging rates of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, continue to strain healthcare infrastructure and household finances across member countries....