Pradeep A. Praveen

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Childhood Perspective

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide including in developing countries like India. Indians are known to be predisposed to CVD, which occur almost a decade earlier in them. Though these diseases manifest in the middle age and beyond, it is now clear that the roots of CVD lie in childhood and adolescence. Many of the conventional risk factors of CVD such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity have their beginnings in childhood and then track overtime. It is thus important to screen and identify these risk factors early and treat them to prevent onset of CVD. Similarly community based strategies to prevent onset of these risk factors is imperative to tackle this burgeoning public health crisis especially in countries like ours with limited resources.

Role of Mobile Phone Technology in Tobacco Cessation Interventions

The health benefits of tobacco cessation are well established [1]. Cessation is a key element within the World Health Organization’s (WHO) MPOWER strategies (Monitoring tobacco consumption and the effectiveness of preventive measures; Protect people from tobacco smoke; Offer help to quit tobacco use; Warn about the dangers of tobacco; Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship; and Raise taxes on tobacco) that are intended to assist in the country-level implementation of WHO’s Framework Convention for Tobacco Control guidelines. The potential impact of cessation interventions in lowand middle-income countries is considerable given the large numbers of tobacco users and relatively low quit rates when compared with high-income countries [2]. Traditional tobacco cessation programs include both population-based and individual strategies. Research evidence supports the effectiveness of clinic-based tobacco cessation interventions such as physician-delivered tobacco cessation advice [3], group therapy [4], individual counseling [5], selfhelp materials [6], telephone counseling [7], and nicotine replacement therapy [8]. However, these strategies are found to be resource-intensive, requiring dedicated professional support and participant adherence. In addition, these methods cover only a small group of the smoking population. Systematic reviews have identified community-based interven-

Changes in hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates over 20 years in National Capital Region of India: results from a repeat cross-sectional study

Background and objectives Despite being one of the leading risk factors of cardiovascular mortality, there are limited data on changes in hypertension burden and management from India. This study evaluates trend in the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the urban and rural areas of India’s National Capital Region (NCR). Design and setting Two representative cross-sectional surveys were conducted in urban and rural areas (survey 1 (1991–1994); survey 2 (2010–2012)) of NCR using similar methodologies. Participants A total of 3048 (mean age: 46.8±9.0 years; 52.3% women) and 2052 (mean age: 46.5±8.4 years; 54.2% women) subjects of urban areas and 2487 (mean age: 46.6±8.8 years; 57.0% women) and 1917 (mean age: 46.5±8.5 years; 51.3% women) subjects of rural areas were included in survey 1 and survey 2, respectively. Primary and secondary outcome measures Hypertension was defined as per Joint National Committee VII guidelines. Structured questionnaire was used to measure the awareness and treatment status of hypertension. A mean systolic blood pressure <140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg was defined as control of hypertension among the participants with hypertension. Results The age and sex standardised prevalence of hypertension increased from 23.0% to 42.2% (p<0.001) and 11.2% to 28.9% (p<0.001) in urban and rural NCR, respectively. In both surveys, those with high education, alcohol use, obesity and high fasting blood glucose were at a higher risk for hypertension. However, the change in hypertension prevalence between the surveys was independent of these risk factors (adjusted OR (95% CI): urban (2.3 (2.0 to 2.7)) rural (3.1 (2.4 to 4.0))). Overall, there was no improvement in awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension in the population. Conclusion There was marked increase in prevalence of hypertension over two decades with no improvement in management.

Registry of Youth Onset Diabetes in India (YDR) Rationale, Recruitment, and Current Status

Background: With the aim of addressing the relative scarcity of information on youth-onset diabetes in India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) decided to establish the Registry of People with Diabetes with Young Age at Onset (YDR) in 2006. The major objectives of YDR are to generate information on disease pattern or types of youth-onset diabetes including their geographical variations within India and to estimate the burden of diabetes complications. Methods: YDR is an observational multicenter clinic based registry enlisting physician diagnosed diabetes in individuals below 25 years of age. Diabetes was classified using symptom based clinical criteria. YDR data collection is coordinated through regional collaborating centers and their interacting reporting centers across India. A baseline and an annual follow-up proformas are used to obtain information on sociodemographic details, clinical profile, and anthropometric and laboratory measurements of the patients. Results: In phase 1, the registry has enrolled 5546 patients, in which type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) was the most prevalent (63.9%), followed by youth-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (25.3%). Conclusion: This registry provides a unique opportunity to study the natural history of youth-onset diabetes in India.

Type 2 Diabetes in Youth in South Asia

People of South Asian origin are at a high risk of developing diabetes compared to that of other ethnic groups. Recent evidence suggests an emerging epidemic of youth-onset type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the region, in parallel with the childhood obesity epidemic. Many risk factors such as foetal and early-life influences, the South Asian phenotype, family history of diabetes and environment factors are responsible for the early occurrence of T2DM in South Asia. The high risk supports the need for the opportunistic screening of children and adolescents for diabetes in South Asian countries. Early detection, lifestyle modification, weight reduction and drugs are central to the care of children with T2DM. Both population-based preventive strategies and interventions targeting children and adolescents with obesity and impaired glucose tolerance are required to combat the epidemic of youth-onset T2DM in South Asia.

20-Year Trend of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors : Urban and Rural National Capital Region of Delhi, India

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization and the Government of India have set targets to reduce burden of noncommunicable diseases. Information on population level trend of risk factors would provide insights regarding the possibility of achieving them. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the population trends of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the National Capital Region of Delhi over 2 decades. METHODS Two representative cross-sectional surveys were conducted among men and women ages 35 to 64 years, residing in the urban and rural areas (survey 1 [1991 to 1994] and survey 2 [2010 to 2012]) using similar methodology. The urban sample was collected from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and the rural sample was from the Ballabgarh block of the adjoining state of Haryana. A total of 3,048 and 2,052 subjects of urban areas and 2,487 and 1,917 subjects of rural areas were surveyed in surveys 1 and 2, respectively. Behavioral (smoking and alcohol use), physical (overweight, abdominal obesity, and raised blood pressure), and biochemical risk factors (raised fasting blood glucose and raised total cholesterol) were measured using standard tools. RESULTS Urban and rural prevalence of overweight, alcohol use, raised blood pressure, and blood glucose increased with increases in age-standardized mean body mass index (urban: 24.4 to 26.0 kg/m2; rural: 20.2 to 23.0 kg/m2), systolic blood pressure (urban: 121.2 to 129.8 mm Hg; rural: 114.9 to 123.1 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (urban: 74.3 to 83.9 mm Hg; rural: 73.1 to 82.3 mm Hg), and fasting glucose (urban: 101.2 to 115.3 mg/dl; rural: 83.9 to 103.2 mg/dl). The smoking prevalence increased in the rural male population. Raised total cholesterol declined in urban and increased significantly in rural populations. CONCLUSIONS The study indicates an overall worsening of population levels of all cardiovascular disease risk factors in National Capital Region over past 20 years, though some signs of stabilization and reversal are seen in urban Delhi.

20-Year Trend of CVD Risk Factors: Urban and Rural National Capital Region of India

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization and the Government of India have set targets to reduce burden of noncommunicable diseases. Information on population level trend of risk factors would provide insights regarding the possibility of achieving them. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the population trends of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the National Capital Region of Delhi over 2 decades. METHODS Two representative cross-sectional surveys were conducted among men and women ages 35 to 64 years, residing in the urban and rural areas (survey 1 [1991 to 1994] and survey 2 [2010 to 2012]) using similar methodology. The urban sample was collected from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and the rural sample was from the Ballabgarh block of the adjoining state of Haryana. A total of 3,048 and 2,052 subjects of urban areas and 2,487 and 1,917 subjects of rural areas were surveyed in surveys 1 and 2, respectively. Behavioral (smoking and alcohol use), physical (overweight, abdominal obesity, and raised blood pressure), and biochemical risk factors (raised fasting blood glucose and raised total cholesterol) were measured using standard tools. RESULTS Urban and rural prevalence of overweight, alcohol use, raised blood pressure, and blood glucose increased with increases in age-standardized mean body mass index (urban: 24.4 to 26.0 kg/m2; rural: 20.2 to 23.0 kg/m2), systolic blood pressure (urban: 121.2 to 129.8 mm Hg; rural: 114.9 to 123.1 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (urban: 74.3 to 83.9 mm Hg; rural: 73.1 to 82.3 mm Hg), and fasting glucose (urban: 101.2 to 115.3 mg/dl; rural: 83.9 to 103.2 mg/dl). The smoking prevalence increased in the rural male population. Raised total cholesterol declined in urban and increased significantly in rural populations. CONCLUSIONS The study indicates an overall worsening of population levels of all cardiovascular disease risk factors in National Capital Region over past 20 years, though some signs of stabilization and reversal are seen in urban Delhi.

20-Year Trend of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization and the Government of India have set targets to reduce burden of noncommunicable diseases. Information on population level trend of risk factors would provide insights regarding the possibility of achieving them. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the population trends of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the National Capital Region of Delhi over 2 decades. METHODS Two representative cross-sectional surveys were conducted among men and women ages 35 to 64 years, residing in the urban and rural areas (survey 1 [1991 to 1994] and survey 2 [2010 to 2012]) using similar methodology. The urban sample was collected from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and the rural sample was from the Ballabgarh block of the adjoining state of Haryana. A total of 3,048 and 2,052 subjects of urban areas and 2,487 and 1,917 subjects of rural areas were surveyed in surveys 1 and 2, respectively. Behavioral (smoking and alcohol use), physical (overweight, abdominal obesity, and raised blood pressure), and biochemical risk factors (raised fasting blood glucose and raised total cholesterol) were measured using standard tools. RESULTS Urban and rural prevalence of overweight, alcohol use, raised blood pressure, and blood glucose increased with increases in age-standardized mean body mass index (urban: 24.4 to 26.0 kg/m2; rural: 20.2 to 23.0 kg/m2), systolic blood pressure (urban: 121.2 to 129.8 mm Hg; rural: 114.9 to 123.1 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (urban: 74.3 to 83.9 mm Hg; rural: 73.1 to 82.3 mm Hg), and fasting glucose (urban: 101.2 to 115.3 mg/dl; rural: 83.9 to 103.2 mg/dl). The smoking prevalence increased in the rural male population. Raised total cholesterol declined in urban and increased significantly in rural populations. CONCLUSIONS The study indicates an overall worsening of population levels of all cardiovascular disease risk factors in National Capital Region over past 20 years, though some signs of stabilization and reversal are seen in urban Delhi.

Childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes in India

India is witnessing an increase in the burden of childhood obesity, especially among the upper socioeconomic strata and in urban areas. Emerging literature suggests a link between childhood obesity and the diabetes epidemic in India. Asian-Indian children and adolescents are increasingly susceptible to a high percentage of body fat and abdominal adiposity. Further, they are exposed to an obesogenic environment, created by rapid urbanization and nutrition transition in India. Obese children have a higher risk of developing abnormalities that are recognized as precursors to diabetes, such as subclinical inflammation, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, which often track to adulthood. A review of the literature suggests the need for more longitudinal studies to improve understanding of the long-term consequences of childhood obesity in India. A life-course approach with a combination of population- and risk-based strategies is warranted, to prevent childhood obesity and curtail its consequences in adulthood.

RAPID ESCALATION OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTOR BURDEN IN RURAL AREAS OF NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION OF DELHI OVER TWENTY YEARS

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors in India are assumed to be a predominant urban problem. Data on the change in burden of these risk factors in urban versus rural areas is unavailable. Multistage cluster random sampling was used for two cross-sectional surveys carried out in urban