Global Aging

Our mission is to improve global healthy aging. Specifically, we provide an evidence basis on how health systems and individuals respond to population aging and the rise of chronic diseases worldwide. The long-term objective of this working group is to reduce morbidity, mortality, and health inequities associated with cardiovascular disease, HIV, and key aging-related comorbidities by facilitating global access to chronic disease care and fostering systems conducive to living a healthy lifestyle.

In our research, we aim to characterize the global state of chronic disease care by quantifying unmet care needs, identifying underserved population groups, and describing the global epidemiology of individual and comorbid chronic diseases. Drawing from these insights, we design and evaluate interventions to improve chronic disease prevention and care systems. We conduct our research via i) population-level epidemiological and modelling studies using nationally-representative data on 100+ countries, and ii) experimental and quasi-experimental studies in South Africa and Indonesia. Our work is used to inform global policy, health system surveillance, and international target setting. As such, our work has contributed to global diabetes reporting in the International Diabetes Federation Atlas; and the development and adoption of the WHO Global Diabetes Coverage Targets.

The global state of and progress in access to diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia care;
The global state of and progress in obesity management and epidemiology;
The epidemiology of behavioral risk factors for cardiovascular disease, specifically diet, tobacco, alcohol, and physical activity;
The methodology of measuring and analyzing global chronic disease care;
HIV prevention and care in middle-aged and older adults;
Interventions to improve chronic disease prevention and care access in middle-aged and older adults.

Yoo, S. G. K., et al. (2026). GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity: Eligibility across 99 countries. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 14(2), 105–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(25)00356-0
Co-author: Maja E. Marcus
Chung, G. S., et al. (2026). Attainment of global diabetes targets in 2021: A pooled analysis of individual-level data from national surveys in 100 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. The Lancet Global Health, 14(1), e21–e32. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(25)00393-6
Co-author: Maja E. Marcus
Sulola, M. A., et al. (2025). Use of traditional medicine for hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia measured in 71 surveys. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 103(11), 662–674. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.25.293665
Co-author: Maja E. Marcus
Marcus, M. E., et al. (2025). Left behind? A longitudinal analysis of need for preexposure prophylaxis services among middle-aged and older adults in South Africa. AIDS, 39(13), 1946–1953. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0000000000004283
Marcus, M. E., Reuter, A., Rogge, L., & Vollmer, S. (2024). The effect of SMS reminders on health screening uptake: A randomized experiment in Indonesia. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 227, Article 106715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106715
Marcus, M. E., et al. (2022). Use of statins for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in 41 low-income and middle-income countries: A cross-sectional study of nationally representative, individual-level data. The Lancet Global Health, 10(3), e369–e379. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00551-9

The Global Health & Population Project on Access to Care for Cardiometabolic Diseases (HPACC)

HPACC is an international research consortium and data resource, established to meet the clear need for answers to key health policy and clinical questions relating to cardiometabolic diseases globally. We search, obtain and harmonize nationally representative survey data on cardiometabolic diseases across low-, middle-, and high-income countries to close existing research gaps. As leading member of the HPACC team, Dr. Marcus and her team members collaborate with more than 80 physicians, economists, and public health researchers from >30 countries and universities such as Harvard University, the University of Birmingham, the University of Göttingen, and Heidelberg University.

Please visit the HPACC website for more information.

HPACC Website

HAALSA - Health and Aging in Africa: Longitudinal Studies in South Africa

HAALSA is a longitudinal cohort study in an aging population in Agincourt, South Africa by the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, in partnership with the MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt) of the University of the Witwatersrand. As long-standing collaborator in the HAALSA cohort study, Dr. Marcus and team assess HIV prevention and access to chronic disease care in middle-aged and older adults in South Africa.

Please visit the HAALSA website for more information.

HAALSA Website

Health Behavior in Indonesia

This is a joint research line between the researchers from the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, the University of Goettingen, Germany, and Syiah Kuala University, Indonesia. In causal impact evaluations and observational studies, this project focuses on improving cardiovascular disease care and prevention in middle-aged and older adults in Aceh, Indonesia. Specifically, we study barriers to diabetes and hypertension screening as well as test interventions on how to increase preventive health behavior for CVD.

Global Aging

Group Leader