The 9th annual Lancet–Chinese Academy Medical Sciences (CAMS) health conference, Nov 23–24, showcased some of the very best research from China, fostered international collaboration, and underscored the pressing health challenges within the country and elsewhere. Foremost of these challenges is the rising tide of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Speakers presented alarming evidence suggesting huge gaps in the delivery of services to address NCDs in China.

 

The burden of NCDs that China now faces is monumental. Lei Zhang (Xian Jiaotong University) presented projections showing how the economic burden of diabetes will surpass the growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP) during 2020–30. This finding aligns with data published in The Lancet in June, which estimated that 35·5 million people in China had diabetes in 1990, rising to 118 million in 2021, and projected to further increase to a staggering 257 million by 2050. Winnie Yip (Harvard University) pointed out that the prevalence of hypertension increased from 25·7% in 2007, to 31·5% in 2017, but only 34·2% of people with hypertension were treated and only 9·2% had their blood pressure effectively controlled. Data presented by Xi Li (CAMS) revealed substantial disparities in hypertension awareness, treatment, and control in primary care across China.