India witnessed rise in chronic disease deaths between 2010

A recent study published in The Lancet reveals a worrying trend: the risk of dying from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has increased in India, unlike the global decline observed in most countries. NCDs such as heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, and cancers pose growing challenges, particularly affecting Indian women over 40 and men over 55. Between 2010 and 2019, the probability of dying from NCDs rose to 48.7% for women and 57.9% for men in India, with heart disease and diabetes being the top causes. This contrasts sharply with declines seen in 152 countries for women and 147 for men worldwide during the same period. Experts point to lifestyle factors, pollution, urbanization, and insufficient healthcare access as key drivers. The study also highlights data quality issues in India, making accurate assessments difficult. The findings underscore urgent need for stronger public health policies, improved healthcare infrastructure, and better data collection to combat rising NCD deaths and protect vulnerable populations in India.