A recent paper published in the British Heart Journal has made a startling revelation that coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common noninfectious disease in India, and is likely to affect over 65 million Indians by 2015.
The data has highlighted the need to develop a system of care for heart attacks in India. According to the recent data, the prevalence of CAD and myocardial infraction is on rise in the country.
One of the key authors of the paper, senior cardiologist Dr Thomas Alexander said, “The overall prevalence in India has risen dramatically over the last two decades.
Approximately, three to four per cent of Indians in the rural areas, and eight to 10 per cent in the urban areas suffer from CAD. Moreover, Indians are more likely to develop CAD during their working years. Among working-age adults (35-64 years old), nearly 18 million productive years of life are expected to be lost due to CAD by 2030. This number over nine times higher than expected in the US.”
According to the paper, this pattern of the disease has substantial implications for India’s growing workforce and economy. The financially backward people suffering from CAD in India appear to be at greater risk.
Meanwhile, the paper also highlights the need to develop a system of care for heart attacks in India. The paper states that the major challenges in managing heart attacks mainly arise due to the distinctive structure of India’s healthcare system, which is one of the most privatised in the world.
Dr Alexander said, “As such, specialised the centres in the urban areas offer world class treatment, while much of the country’s population still relies on public health systems.”