India faces an 'epidemic' of heart disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are expected to be the fastest growing chronic illnesses between 2007 and 2017, growing at 9.5% annually, and accounting for the second largest number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) patients after mental illnesses in India, according to an ASSOCHAM-Deloitte joint study on the occasion of ‘World Heart day,’ posted on the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) website.

A day ahead of the World Heart day (September 29), a joint study prepared by ASSOCHAM and Deloitte on ‘Cardiovascular diseases in India’ reveals that CVDs accounted for around one-fourth of all deaths in India in 2008. A more worrying fact is that the incidences of CVDs have gone up significantly for people between the ages 25 and 69 to 24.8%, which means we are losing more productive people to these diseases.

Between 2007 and 2017, India is projected to cumulatively lose $236.6 billion because of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, shaving 1% off the GDP. In 2000, in the age group of 35 to 64, India lost 9.2 million years of productive life (PYLLs), almost six times the figure for USA, noted the study.