Heart diseases may cost India $236 bn

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Heart diseases may cost India $236 bn

 

Indo-Asian News Service

 

New Delhi, September 23, 2006

 

 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1803962,0050.htm

 

Over two million people die of coronary diseases in India annually and the

country stands to lose $236 billion in the next 10 years due to loss in

productive working days and treatment costs, say experts.

 

"Currently, India is home to over 60 million coronary heart patients and

more than two million patients are succumbing to the disease every year,"

well known cardiologist Naresh Trehan said.

 

"The burden of the disease will weigh heavily on the economic backbone of

the country unless people bring a change in their lifestyles. Along with the

loss in human capital, the country's economy will suffer on account of loss

in working days and treatment costs," said Trehan, executive director of the

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre.

 

According to a World Health Organisation estimate, India's economic loss due

to heart related disease could be $236 billion till 2015.

 

While Russia may lose $303 billion, China is expected to lose over $550

billion in the next decade.

 

Over 17 million people died of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack

or stroke in 2005, WHO says. Contrary to popular belief, over 80 per cent of

the deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries.

 

The WHO has warned that Indians, being genetically prone to cardiac

disorders, are likely to constitute about 60 per cent of the world's cardiac

patients by 2010.

 

Statistics show an alarming incidence of heart diseases among youngsters in

India, said SK Gupta, senior cardiologist at the Indraprastha Apollo

Hospital.

 

Cases of heart diseases (per 1,00,000) increased from 145 males and 126

females in 1985 to 253 males and 204 females in 2000.

 

"According to one estimate, more than 260 people are succumbing to the

diseases for every 1,00,000 people."

 

Gupta said the prevalence of coronary heart diseases among the urban

population was more than three times compared to the rural populace.

 

"Changing lifestyles, no focus on physical exercise and growing work

pressure in urban setups are contributing to the spread of this menace," he

added.

 

He said every year 25,000 coronary bypass operations and 12,000

angioplasties were carried out in India. Nearly, 1,00,000 children were born

every year with congenital heart diseases.

 

Notwithstanding the urban-rural divide, the consumption of tobacco

persisted, and that is "bad news", he said. Youngsters in rural areas are

taking to tobacco as a "hobby" while smoking has become a lifestyle

statement in cities.

 

"The situation is really grim in India. As the number of deaths is growing

gradually, the country is losing productive working days, which in turn is a

loss to the economy," said K Srinath Reddy, head of cardiology, All India

Institute of Medical Sciences.

 

Upendra Kaul, chief cardiologist at the Fortis hospital, said that due to

lifestyle problems nearly 10 per cent of the urban population and around

three per cent in rural areas were suffering from coronary heart diseases.

 

"More shockingly, over 30 per cent of these patients are young (below 40

years). The disease is certainly affecting their income by eating into the

productive workdays. This indirectly has a negative impact on the country's

economy," Kaul said.

 

Baba Das, one the doctors to perform the first open heart surgery in India,

said the increasing incidence of heart diseases and deaths due to heart

problems were causing major concern.