Deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses have increased in India between 2010 and 2019, according to a study published in The Lancet.
The trend contrasts with global declines in NCD mortality, highlighting growing health challenges in India.
Rising NCD Mortality in India
The study shows that the risk of dying from an NCD in India increased by:
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2.1% for women
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0.1% for men
Professor Majid Ezzati of London’s Imperial College, lead author of the study, noted that women over 40 and men over 55 face the highest mortality risk.
For Indian women, the probability of dying from an NCD before age 80 rose from 46.6% in 2011 to 48.7% in 2019, reversing a slight decline observed in the previous decade.
Men saw a smaller increase, largely due to improved diagnosis and treatment for eight major causes of death, including ischemic heart disease and liver cirrhosis.
Key Drivers of Increased NCD Deaths
The study highlighted major contributors to the rise in NCD mortality:
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Ischemic heart disease
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Diabetes, including chronic kidney disease caused by diabetes
At the same time, India recorded reductions in deaths from:
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Liver cirrhosis
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Stomach cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, and other circulatory diseases (mainly among men)
However, lung cancer mortality in India has increased, making the country one of only five globally showing rising deaths in this category. The other nations are Armenia, Iran, Egypt, and Papua New Guinea.
Global Context
Across 185 countries, the study found:
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NCD mortality increased in 33 countries for women and 38 for men
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NCD mortality decreased in 152 countries for men and 147 countries for women
The authors cautioned that their findings for India are subject to uncertainty due to low-quality data, urging careful interpretation.
Takeaways
This study underscores the urgent need for strengthened public health measures in India to tackle chronic diseases. Key priorities include:
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Early diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes
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Awareness campaigns targeting high-risk populations
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Policy interventions to address lifestyle-related risk factors
