Changing profile of disease contributing to mortality in a resettlement colony of Delhi.
BACKGROUND
The past decade has seen a decline in the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) contributed by communicable diseases while lifestyle changes and rapid urbanization have led to an increase in DALYs contributed by non-communicable diseases. We studied the causes of death in a low socioeconomic area over 11 years to help identify changes in the pattern of disease.


METHODS
We did this study in Gokulpuri, a resettlement colony in East Delhi. All deaths occurring from 1994 to 2004 were analysed using a verbal autopsy questionnaire completed by trained health workers during their home visits in the area.


RESULTS
A total of 515 deaths occurred during the period; 340 in men (66%) and 175 in women (34%). The six commonest causes of death were tuberculosis (24.8%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (11.6%), pneumonia (8.7%), accidents and poisoning (8.6 %), coronary heart disease (8.2%) and cancer (4.6%). The age-specific mortality rate was highest among people > 45 years of age. The cause-specific mortality rate due to communicable diseases showed a decline while that due to non-communicable diseases showed a rising trend in all age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows the coexistence of communicable and non-communicable diseases in a low socioeconomic area with a rising trend in non-communicable diseases. Surveillance for risk factors of non-communicable diseases should be done even in predominantly low socioeconomic areas. The coexistence of communicable and non-communicable diseases and the increase in non-communicable diseases among the economically deprived sections of our society suggest the need to re-prioritize components of healthcare among these sections.
Saha
Renuka
R
Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110002, India.
Nath
Anita
A
Sharma
Nandini
N
Badhan
S K
SK
Ingle
G K
GK
D000208:Acute Disease / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000401:mortality; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*