The probability of dying from chronic disease increased between 2010 and 2019 for both women and men in India, according to a global health tracker published in the Lancet. This stands out in contrast as the risk of dying from a chronic disease between birth and age 80 decreased in four out of five countries – 152 (82%) countries for women and 147 (79%) for men.Deaths from chronic disease increased with heart disease and diabetes, both of which are the topmost risk factors in India, as per the new report. Fewer deaths from cardiovascular diseases (including heart attacks and strokes) led to declining chronic disease mortality in countries that improved their public health markers.The study tracked global progress to reduce deaths from chronic or ‘non-communicable’ diseases (NCDs) in 185 countries from 2010-2019. It was led by researchers at Imperial College, London and funded by the UK Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and NCD Alliance.What about India findings?The study has reported that overall NCD mortality in India between 2010 and 2019, as compared to 2000- 2010, increased in females by 2.1 per cent and in males by 0.1 per cent.Prof Majid Ezzati, School of Public Health, Imperial College London and lead author told The Indian Express that the probability of dying from an NCD between birth and age 80 increased in India while it decreased in high-income Western countries and high income countries and emerging economies in east Asia. “The mortality risk was most prominent above 40 years for females and above 55 years for males,” he explained. Ischaemic heart disease and diabetes (including chronic kidney disease due to diabetes) increased the risk for both sexes.“There were decreases in mortality from cirrhosis of the liver and the residual category of all other NCDs for both sexes, with additional improvements for males in stomach cancer, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), stroke, and the residual category of all other circulatory diseases. The 2010–19 change was a deterioration (ie, going from a decrease to an increase) compared with the preceding decade for females,” Prof Ezzati said.Although the report quotes lack of high quality data from India and according to researchers, the percentage of newborns dying from a chronic disease before they turn 80 years old was 46.7 per cent in females in 2001, 46.6 per cent in 2010 and in 2019 it was 48.7 per cent. Among men in 2001 it was 56 per cent, in 2010- it was 57.8 per cent and in 2019 it was 57.9 per cent.Story continues below this adWhat were the causes of increased mortality in India?Ischaemic heart disease (narrowing of heart arteries because of plaque deposition), as flagged in the report, is because of the uncontrolled burden of diabetes, cholesterol and obesity, according to Dr Rajeev Gupta, past-president, Indian Society of Hypertension. “Obesity is increasing rapidly in India, especially in the urban areas and is driving the diabetes epidemic. Diet control and physical fitness are non-negotiable at every age,” he said.At the same time, he highlighted how an awareness of high blood pressure had helped in reducing death due to stroke. “This is because of better control of high blood pressure,” he said.He even called for aggressive policy interventions to control the diabetes, obesity and heart attack spiral in the country. “Increase taxes on sweetened beverages and ultra-processed foods to 40 per cent. This can disincentivise consumption. Other policy interventions could include creating walking spaces and urban landscape reforms,” said Dr Gupta. There are a number of personal interventions to reduce obesity such as control of saturated fats and calorie dense foods. “Consumption of vegetables and fruits should be encouraged and the government could subsidise some of these fibre and nutrient-rich foods,” he said.As for lowering risk of cardiovascular diseases, Dr Gupta suggested a stronger awareness and limiting consumption of tobacco, alcohol, trans fats and salt as well as emphasizing the need for aggressive stress management. “Other than that, we have to look at ways to control pollution (ambient as well as indoor), which is a compounding risk factor,” he says.Story continues below this adHowever, Prof Ezzati cautioned the need to be careful in interpreting the change in the number of deaths. “India’s population has grown in size and has also become older on average due to better survival. So, population alone would increase the number of deaths. This is why we report the risk of dying,” he said.