Background India has a massive noncommunicable disease (NCD) burden, at an enormous cost to the individual, family, society, and health system at large, despite which prevention and surveillance are relatively neglected. If diagnosed early and treated adequately, risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease would help decrease the mortality and morbidity burden. Surveillance for NCDs, creating awareness, positive lifestyle changes, and treatment are the proven measures known to prevent the progression of the disease. India is in a stage of rapid epidemiological transition, with the state of Kerala being at the forefront, pointing us towards likely disease burden and outcomes for the rest of the country in the future. A previous study done by the same investigators in a population of >100,000 revealed poor awareness, treatment of NCDs, and poor adherence to medicines in individuals with CVD. Objective This study aimed at assessing a sustainable, community-based surveillance model for NCDs with corporate support fully embedded in the public health system. Methods Frontline health workers will check all individuals in the target group (≥age 30 years) with further follow-up and treatment planned in a “spoke and hub” model using the public health system of primary health centers as spokes to the hubs of taluk or district hospitals. All data entry done by frontline health workers will be on a tablet PC, ensuring rapid acquisition and transfer of participant health details to primary health centers for further follow-up and treatment. Results The model will be evaluated based on the utilization rate of various services offered at all tier levels. The proportions of the target population screened, eligible individuals who reached the spoke or hub centers for risk stratification and care, and community-level control for hypertension and diabetes in annual surveys will be used as indicator variables. The model ensures diagnosis and follow-up treatment at no cost to the individual entirely through the tiered public health system of the state and country. Conclusions Surveillance for NCDs is an essential facet of health care presently lacking in India. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has a long gestation period in progression to the symptomatic phase of the disease, during which timely preventive and lifestyle measures would help prevent disease progression if implemented. Unfortunately, several asymptomatic individuals have never tested their plasma glucose, serum lipid levels, or blood pressure and are unaware of their disease status. Our model, implemented through the public health system using frontline health workers, would ensure individuals aged≥30 years at risk of disease are identified, and necessary lifestyle modifications and treatments are given. In addition, the surveillance at the community level would help create a general awareness of NCDs and lead to healthier lifestyle habits. Trial Registration Clinical Trial Registry India CTRI/2018/07/014856; https://tinyurl.com/4saydnxf International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/27299

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UNSTRUCTURED Abstract: India has a massive non-communicable disease (NCD) burden at an enormous cost to the individual, family, society and health system at large, in spite of which prevention and surveillance is relatively neglected. Risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease if diagnosed early and treated adequately would help decrease the mortality and morbidity burden. India is in a stage of rapid epidemiological transition with the state of Kerala being at the forefront, pointing us towards likely disease burden and outcomes for the rest of the country, in the future. A previous study done by the same investigators, in a population of >100,000, revealed poor awareness and treatment of NCDs and also poor adherence to medicines in individuals with CVD. The investigators are looking at a sustainable, community based model of surveillance for NCDs with corporate support wherein frontline health workers check all individuals in the target group ( > age 30 years) with further follow up and treatment planned in a “spoke and hub” model using the public health system of primary health centres (PHCs) as spokes to the hubs of Taluk or District hospitals. All data entry done by frontline health workers would be on a Tab PC ensuring rapid acquisition and transfer of participant health details to PHCs for further follow up and treatment. The model will be evaluated based on the utilisation rate of various services offered at all tier levels. The proportions of the target population screened, eligible individuals who reached the spoke or hub centres for risk stratification and care and community level control for hypertension and diabetes in annual surveys will be used as indicator variables. The model ensures diagnosis and follow up treatment at no cost to the individual entirely through the tiered public health system of the state and country.

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