Indian hearts may be surviving on hi-tech help. But they are not so generous towards the economy.
KOCHI: Indian hearts may be surviving on hi-tech help. But they are not so generous towards the economy.
India sheds about Rs 200 billion, that is 0.8 per cent of the gross national product, a year to take care of its `problem hearts' that grow day by day.
If data with the Cardiological Society of India is any indication, at least Rs 100 billion is spent directly to mend problem hearts and an equal amount indirectly.
Thanks to modern sedentary lifestyle and typical Indian psyche that still views exercise as untouchable, coronary heart disease prevalence was three to four times higher than white Americans, six times higher than Chinese and 20 times higher than the Japanese, said CSI President Ashok Kumar Kar, quoting statistics from a global burden diseases study.
The estimated mortality from heart diseases was 1.6 million in 2000, with adult urban population comprising 7 to 10 per cent. Thus, there could be 30 million patients with CHD and 14 million were in urban areas.
“Going by the current projections, India will have the largest CHD burden in the world by 2020. Indians are prone at a much younger age too,'' Dr Kar said while addressing the delegates at annual conference of CSI Kerala Chapter here on Saturday.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin resistance and diabetes, were the main risk factors for Indians.
In urban populations, the prevalence numbers had increased from .5 million in 1960 to 4.5 million in 1970, 5.6 million in 1980, 9.7 million in 1990 and 14.1 million in 2000, according to the statistics. Among the rural folk, the numbers increased from 4.1 million in 1970 to 6.4 million in 1980 and 15.7 million in 2000.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}