NEW DELHI: Hypertension and diabetes seem to be rampant in two of India's most modern metropolises, Bangalore and Chennai. Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said under his department's programme to test people for the twin diseases, 14% and 21% were found to be suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, respectively, in Banglaore. In Chennai, out of 3 lakhs tested, 50,000 were found to be diabetic and another 60,000 hypertensive. Azad described the early results as ``worrying".
Going by the ministry's latest initiative, 15-20 crore people will be screened for diabetes and hypertension this year. Initially, 100 most backward and inaccessible districts in 21 states and urban slums in 33 cities - with a population of more than 10 lakhs - have been selected, where all adult males above 30 years and pregnant women of all age groups will be screened. At the outset, the scheme will be rolled out in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.
"An integrated scheme, national programme for prevention and control of cancer, diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases and stroke and the national programme for healthcare of the elderly, has been launched in 100 districts in 21 states," Azad said.
International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that India is home to an estimated 50.8 million diabetic, which is likely to increase to 87 million, or 8.4% of the country's adult population by 2030.
India, however, isn't convinced with this projection. The alarming figures led the Indian Council of Medical Research to roll out its fact-finding Indian National Diabetes Study, or INDIAB.
It will test one lakh blood samples collected randomly, and also measure their glucose levels.
Earlier, a similar situation had arisen with India's HIV burden. Global estimates had said India's HIV patient burden was close to 5.2 million. In 2007, serological tests, however, pegged it at 2.4 million.
Under a pilot study, INDIAB was conducted in four states - Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chandigarh and Tamil Nadu - last year. After testing 16,000 people - all above 20 years - preliminary results showed that the diabetes prevalence in Maharashtra was 9.1% and 5.6% in urban and rural areas, respectively. It stood at 11.7% and 6.6% in urban and rural Tamil Nadu, and Chandigarh (13% urban) and (11.9% rural). The corresponding figures for Jharkhand were 11.4% and 2.8%.
Now, ICMR will conduct the study in eight north-eastern states, where it is preparing a lab and training manpower, and is assisted by the Regional Medical Research Centre, Dibrugarh. Around 32,000 people will be tested from this region.
"We will roll out INDIAB across the nation soon. Around 17 states will be a part of this study except the north-eastern states and those which were part of our initial feasibility study. One lakh blood samples will be collected and tested for glucose levels. Every fifth subject will be tested for lipid parameters and ECG to see diabetes-related complications," a Union health ministry official told TOI.
He added, "The study will first look at the actual prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes across states, in urban and rural areas. Then, the prevalence of micro and macro-vascular complications in self-reported diabetics like its effect on heart, kidney and nerves will be analyzed. The final phase of the study will look at genetic molecular markers in the blood samples to see what could be predisposing Indians to diabetes that will help us in early detection. INDIAB will be accomplished in three years."
Dr S K Wangnoo, senior consultant Endocrinology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, said, "One person is dying of diabetes every 10 seconds. Besides, there are two new diabetes cases in every 10 seconds."
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, there are about 220 million diabetes patients worldwide.
Killer disease
-WHO and IDF estimates there are about 220 million diabetes patients worldwide, of which 50.8 million are in India
- Seven out of every 100 adult Indians are diabetic
- Diabetes kills around 10.07 lakh in the 20-79 age group annually - the majority being women (5.81 lakh)
- 60% of diabetics in India pay for expenses incurred for treatment and disease management from their personal savings
- The next common method of payment is through selling or mortgaging properties like land and house and borrowing loans with high interest rates (39%)
- An average diabetic in India spends Rs 25,931 annually on diagnosis and treatment
- India spent $31.9 billion on diabetes care in 2010
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