Indian poverty and cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease is among the world's leading causes of death, and nearly 80% of deaths occur in developing countries. Cardiovascular disease is becoming a major health problem in India, where life expectancy has increased with decreases in infectious disease and childhood mortality. It is well established that this population experiences coronary artery disease at a younger age than other populations. With infectious diseases still endemic, noncommunicable diseases are a lower priority for the governments of developing countries. There is a clear progression to degenerative and lifestyle-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease as a result of current social and economic change. The lack of a public response to the increasing risk for cardiovascular disease thus far is due mostly to a perception among policy makers and the public that cardiovascular disease is largely a problem of the urban rich. In conclusion, this review addresses the imminent threats and ways to tackle the epidemic in India.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA. drkutty2@gmail.com <drkutty2@gmail.com>
Radhakrishnan
R
Ramaraj
Joseph Stephen
JS
Alpert
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors