NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

CONTEXT:

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

FINDINGS OF THE STUDY:

• In 2021, a study found that India has 101 million people with diabetes and 136 million people with pre-diabetes.
• Additionally, 315 million people had high blood pressure; 254 million had generalised obesity, and 351 million had abdominal obesity. 213 million people had hyper cholesterolaemia (wherein fat collects in arteries and puts individuals at greater risk of heart attack and strokes) and 185 million had high low­density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
• 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 co­ordinated by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation.

WHAT ARE NCDs ?

• Non-communicable diseases are a diverse group of chronic diseases that are not communicable, meaning you can’t catch them from another person.

• They are defined as diseases of long duration, generally slow progression and they are the major cause of adult mortality and morbidity worldwide.

• Non-communicable diseases are identified by WHO as “Group II Diseases”.

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY :

• The study is the first comprehensive epidemiological research paper which includes participants from 31 States and some Union Territories, with a large sample size of 1,13,043 individuals.
• 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.
• Diabetes and other metabolic non-­communicable diseases, such as hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia are much more common than estimated previously in India.
• The study also highlights interstate and inter­regional variations.
• The highest diabetes prevalence was found in Goa , Puducherry and Kerala.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ?

• Proper focus on wellness and in having a lifestyle that encompasses healthy diet and exercise.
• Programmes have been brought in to strengthen health infrastructure, human resource development, health­promotion.
• Awareness­ generation for prevention, early diagnosis and ensuring referrals to appropriate healthcare facilities for NCDs.

SYLLABUS: PRELIMS + MAINS: GS-3- HEALTH