30-something heart: Inside a threefold spike striking young India
A recent survey indicates a threefold increase in cardiovascular diseases among young Indians, particularly those aged 30 to 44. The data highlights rising rates of hypertension and diabetes as primary drivers for this health trend.
Why it matters
The shift in heart disease demographics poses a significant public health challenge for India's younger workforce and healthcare infrastructure.
NEW DELHI: Heart disease is increasingly showing up in Indians well before old age, catching even the physically fit off guard. A recent National Statistical Office (NSO) survey reveals a threefold spike in cardiovascular ailments, rising from 1,333 per lakh population in 2017-18 to 3,891 in 2025.Cardiovascular conditions accounted for 2.1% of reported ailments among 15 to 29-year-olds and 15.3% among those aged 30 to 44 years. They were also behind 3.4% of hospitalisations among those in the 15 to 29 bracket and 7.3% among those aged 30 to 44. From 30 onwards, NSO identifies hypertension and diabetes as major contributors to cardiovascular and metabolic ailments.
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