A combination of genetic predisposition and rapidly increasing prosperity means that India may be at unique risk from noncommunicable disease such as hypertension and diabetes. The genetic vulnerability of South Asians to diabetes is such that, in the United Kingdom, being of Indian descent is viewed as a risk factor in itself. A 2010 study in the Southern state of Tamil Nadu suggest that one in every ten Tamilians is diabetic and another eight percent of the population is pre-diabetic. Cardiovascular ailments have displaced communicable diseases as the biggest killer in India and, according to a 2010 University of Toronto study, the leading cause of death in middle aged men is heart disease, even in poorer states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Following are some articles/papers that elaborate on the situation of Non Communicable Diseases(NCD) in the country.
Doctors call for stepping up the response to non-communicable diseases on the eve of World Health Day
As reported by the Times of India. On April 6th a forum consisting of the WHO Country Office for India and the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research (SJICR), Bangalore, with the support of Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka organised a state-level consultation. To read more please click here.
Kerala leads in non-communicable diseases: Study
As reported by the Indian Express, a community-based study in Kerala has found that the state leads in non-communicable diseases (NCD) and its associated risk factors. The state health department and the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology. To read more please click here.
`Coronary artery disease killer No.1 in India’
Talking to The Hindu, Dr. A. Thomas Pezzella, world-renowned cardiac surgeon from the Massachusetts Medical School in the United States and founder director of International Children’s Heart Fund said that India was witnessing a transition from the era of communicable diseases like Malaria, Smallpox, Tuberculosis, etc, to non-communicable diseases like coronary artery diseases, obesity, etc. To read more please click here.
WHO report : Assessment of Burden of Non communicable Diseases
According to the report published by the WHO, India ranks very high among the nations struck by the rising wave of “premature deaths” caused by non-communicable diseases, mainly heart and blood ailments, the WHO said in its latest report on Wednesday. The report said that cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory problems, blood pressure and diabetes are an offshoot of growing affluence of the middle classes as well as worsening health conditions among people below poverty line. To read more click here.
Non Communicable Diseases Burden in India: Strategising the way forward: Roundtable conference held in February 2012
Researchers and policy makers around the world have been increasingly recognizing NCDs (Non communicable diseases) as a health and developmental emergency. NCDs are the leading cause of death in the South-East Asia Region, killing 7.9 million annually (55% of the total deaths in the Region). NCD deaths in Region are expected to increase by 21% over the next decade. For more information please click here.
“Non Communicable Disease claimed 53% lives in India in 2008″
An article published in September 2011 said that over 52 lakh people died in India of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes and cancer in 2008. NCDs accounted for 53% of all deaths. To read more please click here.
NPCDCS: Managing Non Communicable diseases.
The article published on the site of the the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India, states that Considering the rising burden of NCDs and common risk factors to major Chronic Non –Communicable Diseases, Government of India initiated an integratedNational Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancers, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS). The focus of the programme is on health promotion and prevention, strengthening of infrastructure including human resources, early diagnosis and management and integration with the primary health care system throughNCD cells at different levels for optimal operational synergies. National Cancer Control Programme, an on-going programme, has been integrated under NPCDCS.For more information click here.
UN General Assembly NCD political declaration draft
The UN General Assembly adopted the political declaration on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in September 2011. It has asked WHO to develop a framework for monitoring global progress and to prepare, before the end of 2012, recommendations for a set of global targets to monitor trends and assess the progress in countries to reduce the impact of these diseases. Click here to read more.
India fighting against non communicable diseases.
India’s Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said India has already begun steps to tackle diseases like diabetes, heart ailments and cancer.“Screening of diabetics and hypertension is being carried out in 100 identified districts in 21 states and urban slums of 33 cities with more than 1 million population. Adult males above 30 years of age and pregnant women of all age groups are being screened,” Azad said. To read more click here.
ICMR-INDAIB study provides new figures for diabetes
Published in September 2011, the article reports that new figures for diabetes prevalence in India indicate that the epidemic is progressing rapidly across the nation, reaching a total of 62.4 million persons with diabetes in 2011. To read more click here.
Surveillance of mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) related morbidity in Industrial settings: Report by WHO
Almost 2.6 million Indians are predicted to die due to coronary heart disease (CHD), which constitutes 54.1% of all CVD deaths in India by 2020. Additionally, CHD in Indians has been shown to occur prematurely, that is, at least a decade or two earlier than their counterparts in developed countries. To read more click here.
“Six Lakh Indians die of cancer every year”
A study has found that nearly six lakh Indians die of cancer every year, with 70 per cent of these deaths between the ages of 30-69 years. India’s first ever nationwide study was published in the Lancet in UK and released in India ( Mumbai) simultaneously on Wednesday(28th March 2012). To read more click here.