Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: Indian Study Highlights Rising Prevalence

These findings are published in May 2025 in the Indian Heart Journal.

The Growing Burden of Lifestyle Diseases in India

India is currently navigating a significant epidemiological transition, where improved healthcare and increased life expectancy are accompanied by rapid lifestyle changes. The mechanization of work and shifts in dietary habits have led to a "dual burden" of nutrition, where undernutrition persists alongside a surging rate of overweight and obesity. These conditions are critical precursors to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which are responsible for approximately 27% of annual deaths in India. Modifiable risk factors like high blood pressure and abnormal blood sugar are central to this crisis; for instance, hypertension alone accounts for over half of all stroke deaths in the country.

Study Overview

The community-based cross-sectional study utilized a multistage random sampling procedure across eight states: Assam, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. The analysis included 3,270 adults and elderly individuals aged 18 and older, representing urban, urban slum, and rural environments. Researchers collected data on household socioeconomics, Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure, and biochemical parameters, including C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and lipid profiles. Fasting blood glucose and lipid parameters were analyzed at centralized facilities to ensure standardized results across the diverse regions.

The key findings from the study include:

• The overall prevalence of hypertension (HTN) was 44%, rising significantly to 62.2% among the elderly and 46.7% in urban areas.

• Diabetes Mellitus (DM) was found in 21.1% of participants, with higher rates observed in urban settings (25.2%) and among men (22.9%).

• Using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, 23.5% of adults were overweight, but this figure rose to 31.7% when applying Asian-specific BMI cut-offs.

• Dyslipidemia was widespread, with 75% of subjects having low HDL and 44% showing high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

• The odds of developing HTN and DM were notably higher in individuals with abdominal obesity and elevated CRP levels.

Clinical Relevance and Targeted Prevention

For healthcare providers, this study emphasizes that cardiometabolic risks are substantial across diverse socioeconomic strata. The high prevalence of HTN (44%) and DM (21%) suggests an urgent need for routine screening, particularly for those with a BMI over 23 and elevated inflammatory markers. With a significant portion of known hypertensive and diabetic patients failing to achieve controlled clinical targets, clinicians must prioritize treatment adherence and lifestyle modifications. Management of obesity and dyslipidemia remains essential to meet national targets for reducing non-communicable disease mortality.

Reference:

Meshram II, Sunu PV, Sreeramakrishna K, et al. Cardiometabolic risk factors among adults in rural, urban, and urban slum population in eight states of India. Indian Heart Journal. 2025 May 31; 77(2025): 337–347.