A new study by The Lancet shows a worrying trend in India’s health: deaths due to chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have increased between 2010 and 2019. These diseases, which include heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and chronic kidney disease, are becoming a major cause of mortality. The rise in deaths is especially high among women over 40, highlighting a growing public health concern.
Experts warn that this trend is driven by multiple factors, including changes in lifestyle, delayed diagnosis, limited access to preventive care, and an ageing population. The study emphasizes that India needs urgent action to improve prevention, early detection, and healthcare delivery to reduce the burden of NCDs.
The Lancet study indicates that the risk of dying from an NCD before the age of 80 has increased in India over the past decade. For women, the rise is particularly steep: the chance of death from an NCD grew from 46.7% in 2001 to 48.7% in 2019. Men also saw an increase, but it was smaller in comparison.
This trend is in contrast to global patterns. In most countries, NCD-related deaths have decreased due to better health systems, early diagnosis, and improved access to treatment. In about 80% of countries, which cover more than 70% of the world’s population, deaths from chronic diseases declined between 2010 and 2019. India, however, is moving in the opposite direction.
Several diseases contribute to this rise. Heart disease and diabetes remain the leading causes of NCD deaths. Chronic kidney disease, often linked to diabetes, is also a growing concern. Stroke and lung cancer continue to cause high mortality as well. Experts note that lifestyle-related health issues—such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and limited awareness of preventive care—are major factors behind this increase.
If these trends continue without intervention, the number of deaths due to NCDs in India is expected to keep rising. Public health specialists stress that urgent measures are required to change this trajectory.
The Lancet study highlights that women above 40 are the most affected group. They have seen the largest increase in deaths from NCDs compared to men. Several reasons contribute to this. Women often experience delayed diagnosis because symptoms may be subtle or ignored. They also face barriers to preventive care and treatment due to social and cultural factors that place women’s health lower on the priority list.
Lifestyle factors such as poor diet, stress, and occupational pressures also play a role. In contrast, men may receive more regular health screenings or earlier treatment, which can explain why their increase in risk is lower.
Experts recommend several steps to address this public health challenge. First, India needs stronger public health policies and early screening programs for chronic diseases. Screening for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and kidney problems should be widely available, especially in rural areas where healthcare access is limited.
Second, investments in healthcare infrastructure are essential. Hospitals and clinics need better equipment, trained staff, and improved access to treatment in under-served regions. Public awareness campaigns are equally important. People need to understand the importance of regular check-ups, healthy diets, physical activity, and monitoring their blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.
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The study also points out that India’s health data quality is low. This means the actual size of the problem could be even bigger than reported. Better health surveillance and reporting systems are needed to understand the full scope of the issue and track progress effectively.
Unless these measures are taken, the situation may worsen. Women, especially those over 40, are at the highest risk and are already bearing a disproportionate share of the burden. Improving healthcare access, promoting early diagnosis, and encouraging lifestyle changes are key strategies to prevent further increases in NCD-related deaths.
In conclusion, the rise in chronic disease deaths in India is alarming, particularly for women. While other countries are reducing deaths from NCDs, India is facing the opposite trend. Urgent action in prevention, awareness, and healthcare delivery is needed to reverse this pattern. Without immediate intervention, the number of people affected by chronic diseases will continue to grow, further straining India’s healthcare system and impacting the quality of life for millions of families.
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