Are non-communicable diseases increasing in India?

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Health

Concept :

The new national estimates for diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) shows that 31 million more Indians became diabetic in four years (2019-2021).

Non-communicable diseases

Non-communicable diseases are diseases that are not spread through infection or through other people, but are typically caused by unhealthy behaviours.
They are the leading cause of death worldwide and present a huge threat to health and development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Four types of non-communicable diseases account for over two thirds of deaths globally:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Cancers
- Diabetes
- Chronic respiratory diseases
Yet these diseases are largely preventable.

The recent findings:

In 2021, a study found that India has 101 million people with diabetes and 136 million people with prediabetes.
Additionally, 315 million people had high blood pressure; 254 million had generalised obesity, and 351 million had abdominal obesity.
213 million people had hypercholesterolaemia (wherein fat collects in arteries and puts individuals at greater risk of heart attack and strokes).
185 million had high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

Funding:

The decade-long nationwide study was funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research and Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and co-ordinated by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation.

Significance of the study

There are two big trend indicators in the study.
First, diabetes and other metabolic non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia are much more common than estimated previously in India and
Second, while currently urban regions had higher rates of all metabolic NCDs than rural areas, with the exception of prediabetes, rural India will see a diabetes explosion in the next five years if left unregulated.

Interstate and inter-regional variations

The highest diabetes prevalence was found in Goa , Puducherry and Kerala.
While prediabetes was prevalent in Sikkim, hypertension was highest in Punjab.
Generalised obesity and abdominal obesity were highest in Puducherry.
Kerala had high hypercholesterolemia and high LDL cholestrol.
The lowest prevalence of NCDs was found in U.P., Mizoram, Meghalaya and Jharkhand.

How does this study impact India?

The study gives us an early warning that if not controlled, this population is predisposed to NCDs and life-altering medical conditions including strokes.
India is facing the dual problem of malnutrition and obesity.
There is availability of surplus food, but after being exposed to fast foods, a lack of sleep, exercise and stress creates a perfect setting for NCDs to latch-on.