Preliminary figures between January to September 2024 indicated that ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death in the Philippines. The number of people who died from this illness was estimated at 75,500. Following this, cancer resulted in the deaths of about 43,000 people. Eating habits Heart diseases have been linked to high meat consumption, among others. In the Philippines, pork has been the most consumed meat type, followed closely by chicken. While pork meat is typically produced domestically, the country also imports pork to supplement its supply. However, plant-based food has started gaining popularity among Filipinos. In fact, a 2024 survey revealed that 69 percent of surveyed Filipinos consumed plant-based products, including meat alternatives. Common diseases in the Philippines Aside from heart and cerebrovascular diseases, the Filipino population is also exposed to infections, diabetes, skin diseases, and illnesses resulting from high meat consumption. In 2020, over 700,000 Filipinos contracted acute respiratory tract infections, followed by over 400,000 diagnosed with hypertension. In areas with high exposure to rain, dengue infections and leptospirosis have also become prevalent.

In 2021, the morbidity rate per 100,000 population of acute respiratory infection was approximately 543.2 in the Philippines. By comparison, the morbidity rate of heart diseases per 100,000 people was 41.9 in the country.

In 2021, ischaemic heart disease caused approximately 66,290 deaths among females in the Philippines. The other leading causes of mortality among Filipino women were neoplasms, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and pneumonia.

According to preliminary data for 2024, ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death in the Philippines. Deaths caused by this disease accounted for 19.4 percent of the total share of deaths in the country. This was followed by cancer, which held about 11 percent of the total registered deaths.

In the Philippines' Central Visayas region, the morbidity rate of animal bites per 100,000 population amounted to around 111.2 in 2021. In contrast, the morbidity rate of fever of unknown origin per 100,000 inhabitants was 3.7.

In 2021, diarrhea and gastroenteritis of presumed infectious origin was the leading cause of mortality among children aged one to four years old in the Philippines. The number of deaths caused by such disease amounted to 611. The other major causes of child mortality in the country were remainder diseases of sepsis, other tuberculosis, as well as respiratory tuberculosis.

In the Cordillera Administrative Region of the Philippines, the morbidity rate of acute respiratory infection per 100,000 population amounted to just over four thousand in 2021. By comparison, the morbidity rate of acute lower respiratory tract infection disease per 100,000 inhabitants was about 110.9.

In 2021, the leading illnesses in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines was animal bites, with approximately 119,342 cases. The other leading causes of morbidity in the region were hypertension and acute respiratory infection.

In the Davao region of the Philippines, the morbidity rate of hypertension per 100,000 population amounted to 360.6 in 2021. In comparison, the morbidity rate of diseases of the heart per 100,000 inhabitants was about 37.8.

According to the Department of Health, acute respiratory infection was the leading cause of morbidity in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines in 2021, with a rate of just over 238.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. This was followed by TB all forms and animal bites.

In 2021, the leading illness in the Philippines was acute respiratory infection, with approximately 598,591 people diagnosed with this disease. This was followed by hypertension and animal bites. The morbidity rate of acute respiratory infection per hundred thousand population in the Philippines was at nearly 543.2 in that year.

In 2021, acute respiratory infection was the leading cause of morbidity in the Bicol region in the Philippines with a morbidity rate of about 1,712.6. This was followed by hypertension with a morbidity rate of around 1,107.6.

In 2021, approximately 89,485 male Filipinos succumbed to death due to ischaemic heart diseases. Ischaemic heart disease was also the leading cause of death among female population in the Philippines.

In 2021, animal bites was the leading illness in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, with cases amounting to around 8,957. The other leading causes of morbidity in the region were hypertension and pneumonia.

The mortality rate of ischaemic heart diseases per 100,000 population in the Philippines was about 141.4 in 2021. The other four leading causes of deaths were cerebrovascular diseases, neoplasms, diabetes mellitus, and pneumonia.

In the Philippines' Eastern Visayas region, the morbidity rate of acute respiratory infection per 100,000 population amounted to around 432.8 in 2021. In comparison, the morbidity rate of acute watery diarrhea per 100,000 inhabitants was 48.1.

In 2021, the leading illnesses among people living in the National Capital Region of the Philippines was hypertension, with over 69,453 cases. This was followed by acute respiratory infection and animal bites. Hypertension was one of the most common diseases among Filipinos.

In the Philippines' MIMAROPA region, the morbidity rate of acute respiratory infection per 100,000 population amounted to just over 922.1 in 2021. In contrast, the morbidity rate of skin diseases per 100,000 inhabitants was 67.3.

In 2021, acute respiratory infection was the leading disease in the CALABARZON region of the Philippines, with around 45,597 cases. Among the other leading illnesses in the region during this period were hypertension and heart diseases.

In 2021, acute respiratory infection was the leading disease in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines, with around 29,892 cases. Among the other causes of morbidity in the region during this period were TB all forms and animal bites.