 "Deaths by chronic diseases on the rise in India. What Lancet study reveals – Firstpost")
India is among the countries where chances of dying from chronic diseases like heart-related ailments, cancers, and diabetes is on the rise. A study by The Lancet pointed to 50 per cent increase in deaths over the last 30 years. From obesity to sedentary lifestyle, there is a lot that Indians need to pay attention to
India is staring at a health crisis. A new study by The Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals, points to a worrying rise in deaths linked to chronic diseases. The chances of dying from diabetes, cancer and heart diseases have increased in India, the research finds, ringing an alarm about healthcare in the country.
“Deaths from most causes of chronic disease increased in India, with heart disease and diabetes contributing heavily,” the findings warn. In a comparison between men and women in India, women are at a bigger increase in risk.
The study was conducted by researchers from Imperial College London and the World Health Organization (Who), among others. It analysed the data to estimate the risk of dying from chronic diseases for 185 countries and territories between 2010 and 2019.
What are chronic diseases?
Chronic diseases are the ones that have long-term effects on the body, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and severe respiratory diseases. These can result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioural factors. Consumption of tobacco and alcohol, lack of exercise and unhealthy diet and lifestyle only make matters worse.
Why are chronic diseases on the rise in India?
The Lancet study focussed on mortality rates from chronic disease. It studied the rate of deaths linked to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, among others.
The research reported a shocking 59 per cent jump in deaths because of chronic diseases in India over the last 30 years. In 2019, NCDs accounted for 60 per cent of all deaths in India, a rise from 37 per cent in 1990.
Cardiovascular diseases linked to rise in hypertension, obesity, diabetes and poor food habits are a leading cause of deaths among Indians. These heart-related ailments contributed to nearly 30 per cent of all deaths in 2019.
There has been rise in cancer-related deaths, the most from lung, breast and cervical cancer. It is linked to tobacco and alcohol consumption and lack of regular screening, reports NDTV.
Diabetes is also on the rise because of obesity and lack of exercise. Respiratory diseases caused due to smoking and air pollution are a growing concern in the country, the report says.
Who is the most vulnerable to chronic diseases?
It is not just the ageing population but even the younger generations that is affected. A combination of underestimating risks and a lack of regular health check-ups means many young adults miss the warning signs of heart disease and high blood sugar, allowing key risk factors to go undetected until a major event.
The Lancet study further showed a significant gender disparity in chronic disease deaths. While the mortality rate from chronic diseases has climbed for both genders since 1990, the increase for women has been steeper at 68 per cent, compared to a 51 per cent rise for men. Post-menopausal women are more vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases due to hormonal changes that affect heart health.
More and more people are adopting a sedentary lifestyle in India, which is often considered to be the leading cause of chronic diseases. Pair this with a poor diet and no or minimal exercise and it’s an invitation to long-term diseases that affect both the body and the mind.
How do other countries compare with India?
The study has shown that between 2010 and 2019, the risk of dying from a non-communicable disease (NCD) before age 80 decreased for both genders in majority of countries, with a decline in 152 nations for women and 147 for men.
According to news agency PTI, the authors also noted that among large countries, non-communicable disease mortality declined for both sexes in China, Egypt, Nigeria, Russia, and Brazil, but increased in India and Papua New Guinea.
Across most countries, deaths due to cancer and heart disease had reduced, the researchers said. They further noted that there has been an increase in deaths from dementia, neuropsychiatric conditions such as alcohol use disorder, and cancers of the pancreas and liver, which counteracted gains.
The study is the first global analysis to track changes in death rates linked to chronic conditions at a national level and benchmark progress against historical performance, the researchers said.
It is a wake-up call for the world, especially India.
With inputs from agencies
