Epidemiology and causation of coronary heart disease and stroke in India

• Published in: Heart (British Cardiac Society) Vol. 94; no. 1; pp. 16 - 26
• Main Authors: Gupta, R, Joshi, P, Mohan, V, Reddy, K S, Yusuf, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society 01.01.2008; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular disease; Case-Control Studies; Coronary Disease - epidemiology; Coronary Disease - etiology; Coronary heart disease; Epidemiology; Female; Heart; Humans; India - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mortality; Neurology; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Stroke - epidemiology; Stroke - etiology; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Womens health; Asia; India; China; Nervous system diseases; Stroke; Cardiovascular disease; Coronary heart disease; Epidemiology; Phlebology; Cerebral disorder; Vascular disease; Central nervous system disease; Cause; Circulatory system; Cardiology; Cerebrovascular disease; Public health
• ISSN: 1355-6037; 1468-201X
• DOI: 10.1136/hrt.2007.132951

Cardiovascular diseases are major causes of mortality and disease in the Indian subcontinent, causing more than 25% of deaths. It has been predicted that these diseases will increase rapidly in India and this country will be host to more than half the cases of heart disease in the world within the next 15 years. Coronary heart disease and stroke have increased in both urban and rural areas. Case–control studies indicate that tobacco use, obesity with high waist:hip ratio, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, abnormal apolipoprotein A-1:B ratio, diabetes, low consumption of fruits and vegetables, sedentary lifestyles and psychosocial stress are important determinants of cardiovascular diseases in India. These risk factors have increased substantially over the past 50 years and to control further escalation it is important to prevent them. National interventions such as increasing tobacco taxes, labelling unhealthy foods and trans fats, reduction of salt in processed foods and better urban design to promote physical activity may have a wide short-term impact.