Noncommunicable disease in rural India: Are we seriously underestimating the risk? The Nallampatti noncommunicable disease study

Abstract

Aim:To assess the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in a true rural farming population in South India and compare the data with the landmark contemporary Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study.Methods:Local Ethics Committee approval and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Inclusion criteria were participants, aged ≥20 and ≤85 years, from Nallampatti, a classical farming village from Tamil Nadu state, India. All participants were administered a detailed questionnaire, had anthropometric measurements including height, weight, and waist circumference. Bloods were drawn for random blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), nonfasting lipid profile, Cystatin C, uric acid, and hemoglobin. All participants had carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) done by high-resolution B-mode carotid ultrasound.Results:More than 50% of the population had either diabetes or prediabetes based on HbA1c. Nearly, 40% of the population had hypertension with suboptimal control in those with known hypertension. Nearly, a third of the population had dyslipidemia, elevated cystatin C levels, and abnormal CIMT. The burden was higher than the comparable ICMR-INDIAB study in rural Tamil Nadu.Conclusion:One-third to one-half of this rural farming population is at risk of cardiovascular disease, with poor control of preexisting cardiovascular risk factors. Current Indian data may underestimate the risk in different ethnic populations and regions of India. Long-term follow-up of this cohort for the incident cardiovascular disease will shed light on the true cardiovascular risk in a typical South Indian rural farming population.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a rural population in South India: Feasibility of health care workers to administer level III sleep study

“…have exposed that more than 50% of the rural population had a metabolic disorder (diabetes/prediabetes), about 40% had suboptimally controlled hypertension and one-third population had dyslipidemia. [ 19 ] Despite the current prevalence of noncommunicable diseases being lower in the rural population than in urban areas, the burden of disease is huge considering the higher number of people residing in the rural areas.…”

Retrospective study of pattern of treatment in free health camps from 2005 to 2017 in East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, India

“…Most of the burden is attributed by CVD (24%), followed by respiratory diseases (11%), other NCDs (10%) and injuries (10%). [11][12][13] The suspected cases of malaria, leprosy and tuberculosis are referred to nearest community health center for further treatment and needful purposes. The patients of malaria were treated if camp had facility of blood test for malaria parasite.…”

Metals in urine in relation to the prevalence of pre-diabetes, diabetes and atherosclerosis in rural India

“…All participants older than 20 years of age and native of that village were invited to participate in this study through pamphlets and word of mouth. This study, named the ‘Nallampatti non-communicable disease study-I – 2015 (NNCD-I, 2015)7’, was conducted every Sunday during a period of 4 weeks (15 March–5 April 2015). Informed written consent was obtained from all participants prior to participation and followed the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.…”

“…Demographics, anthropometric data, non-fasting blood and spot urine samples were collected from all consented participants as previously described 7. Body weight was measured using an electronic weighing scale (SECA 813), height was measured by a stadiometer (SECA 208), and waist circumference was measured in centimetres using a non-stretchable measuring tape between the costal margins and the iliac crest at the end of expiration.…”