Thanks to India’s rising air pollution crisis, the burden of respiratory diseases is 32 percent of the global burden, found a new study published in The Lancet. To put it in perspective, India consists of 17.8 percent of the population.
Deaths by chronic respiratory diseases contributed to 10.9 percent of total deaths in 2016 in India. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma were responsible for 75.6 percent and 20 percent of chronic respiratory diseases.
The study also found that air pollution contributes to chronic respiratory diseases more than smoking in the country. About 33.6 percent of COPD burden could be attributed to ambient air pollution, 25.8 percent to household air pollution and 21 percent to smoking.
Air pollution also ups risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer.
COPD cases have almost doubled over the past 25 years. It went from 28 million in 1990 to a whopping 55 million from 1990 to 2016, as per The Lancet study.
After ischemic heart disease, COPD was the second leading cause of disease burden in India, contributing 8.7 percent of total deaths.
Prevalence of ischemic heart disease and stroke has increased by over 50 percent from 1990 to 2016 in India, with an increase observed in every state, another paper published simultaneously in The Lancet said.
Deaths due to cardiovascular diseases in India increased from 1.3 million in 1990 to 2.8 million in 2016.
Five studies focusing on these non-communicable diseases (NCDs) highlight the need to boost control of NCDs on a state-wise basis.
Before presenting the papers, Professor Balram Bhargav, Secretary, Depart of Health Research and Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, said:
While it is known that NCDs have been increasing in India, a major finding of concern is that the highest rate of increase in ischaemic heart disease and diabetes is in the less developed states of India.
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