Welocity Genetics

At the turn of the century, Cardio-Vascular Diseases (CVDs) have become the leading cause of mortality in India. This epidemiological transition is largely because of the increase in the prevalence of CVDs and CVD risk factors in India.

According to a new national study, Ischemic heart disease, where blood supply to the heart is restricted, is the leading cause of death in India, causing 17.8% deaths in 2016, increasing the death burden to 104% since 1990. In 2016, the estimated prevalence of CVDs in India was estimated to be 54.5 million. Further, according to a report by Global Burden of Diseases in 2016, 1.7 million Indians die due to heart disease out of the world’s 17.3 million deaths.

LEADING INDIAN STATES

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in 2016 was the highest in Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu i.e. more than 5,000 per population of 100,000. Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa and West Bengal are close second with prevalence between 4,500 and 4,999 per 100,000.

As a matter of concern, heart diseases are projected to account for 35% of the deaths amongst India’s working age (20 to 60) population between 2020 and 2030, as per the ICRIER study.

DID YOU KNOW?

Case-control studies have reported that important risk factors for CVD in India are dyslipidaemias, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, abdominal obesity, psychosocial stress, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity along with genetic predisposition.

WHAT’S THE WAY OUT?

Prevention of cardiovascular disease can be achieved by practising regular exercise, eating balanced and healthy diet, by avoiding tobacco smoking and by the maintenance of an optimal blood pressure and normal LDL-cholesterol and glucose levels.