Title:Epidemiology of Ischemic Heart Disease and Diabetes in South Asia: An Overview of the Twin Epidemic
Volume: 17
Issue: 9
Author(s): Rajeev Gupta*Kiran Gaur
Affiliation:
- Department of Preventive Cardiology & Internal Medicine, Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute, Jaipur,India
Keywords:
Cardiovascular diseases, ischemic heart disease, risk factors, type 2 diabetes, epidemiology, twin epidemic, prevention,
social determinants.
Abstract:
Background & Objectives: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is one of the most important
causes of death and disability in the world and diabetes is an important risk factor. This review was
performed to describe the mortality and morbidity burden from this twin epidemic in South Asian
countries.
Methods: Country-level data on the epidemiology of IHD and diabetes were obtained from the
Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. Sub-national data were available only for India. We also
retrieved epidemiological studies from published reviews on IHD and diabetes in India. These
were supplemented with MEDLINE search.
Results: GBD study and regional epidemiological studies have reported that there are significant regional
variations in IHD mortality and disease burden within South Asian countries. IHD burden
has increased significantly from 2000 to 2017. Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study has reported
that diabetes is an important IHD risk factor in the South Asian region. GBD Study and International
Diabetes Federation have reported increasing diabetes-related mortality and disease burden
in South Asian countries, especially India. There are regional variations in diabetes-related
mortality, disease burden, and prevalence in South Asia. At the macrolevel, rapid food and nutrition
transition along with increasing physical inactivity is responsible for this twin epidemic.
Conclusion: Increasing trends in IHD and diabetes-related mortality and disease burden with regional
variations are observed in South Asian countries.