India has emerged as one of the few countries where the risk of dying from chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart disease has increased among both men and women, according to a global analysis published in The Lancet. In contrast, four out of every five countries have seen a decline in these rates over the past decade.
Women Face Bigger Increase in Risk
As reported by The Mint, the study highlighted that women in India have experienced a greater increase in risk compared to men. “Deaths from most causes of chronic disease increased in India, with heart disease and diabetes contributing heavily,” the researchers reported.
Global Trends Show Decline Elsewhere
Researchers from Imperial College London and the World Health Organization (WHO) analyzed data from 185 countries and territories covering the years 2010 to 2019. Globally, the probability of dying from a non-communicable disease (NCD) before the age of 80 declined in 82% of countries for women and 79% for men.
This progress is largely attributed to a drop in deaths from chronic conditions like cancer, heart attacks, and strokes.
However, India and a few other nations showed the opposite trend. Mortality rates increased for both men and women in India and Papua New Guinea.
Key Drivers Behind India’s Rising Mortality
The researchers pointed out that, apart from India, countries such as China, Egypt, Nigeria, Russia, and Brazil saw a decline in NCD-related deaths in the same period.
In India, rising deaths from heart disease, diabetes, dementia, neuropsychiatric conditions (such as alcohol use disorder), and cancers of the pancreas and liver have offset the global downward trend.
Urgent Call for Action
The study emphasized that nations worldwide must step up efforts to manage chronic illnesses. Under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries have pledged to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030.
Focus on Policy and Investment
Ahead of the Fourth High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on September 25, researchers urged governments to make greater investments in chronic disease prevention and treatment. They stressed the need to ensure that lifesaving interventions and treatments reach the people who need them the most, particularly in low- and middle-income nations like India.