Women and Cardiovascular Diseases in India – Time to Act

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally and account for 32% of global deaths. Of these deaths, 85% are due to heart attack and stroke. In India, CVDs accounted for 27% of total deaths in 2017. CVDs affect Indians in their most productive mid-life years compared to later ages of the western population. Early age of onset, rapid progression, and the high mortality rate are particular causes of concern for CVD in India. Globally, ischaemic heart disease accounts for a third of all female deaths and is a cause for concern. Even the Lancet Women and Cardiovascular Disease Commission, 2021 has highlighted cardiovascular diseases as the leading cause of death in women. In India, the proportion of DALYs for CVDs amongst women has changed from 2.9% (in 1990) to 6.6% in 2016. Women are cared only during pregnancy and the immediate post-partum period, in other times their problems are overlooked. The modiable risk factors such as tobacco , alcohol consumption and obesity have increased in women since 2013. The diagnosis of heart disease is often missed out in the Indian women because of their inability to express their ailments openly, compounded by factors like low socio-economic status, lower educational attainment and constrained access to medical care. Estimates suggest that almost 52% of all NCDs can be managed in primary care. The Indian government (GOI) is addressing the preventive aspect of NCDs through Primary Health Care at the Health & Wellness Centers and promote healthy lifestyles by targeted communication and screening at community level especially for the vulnerable, such as the women and elderly. Ayushman Bharat under GOI is being implemented to reduce out of pocket expenditure incurred towards management of non-communicable diseases amongst poor.