Experts Call for Early Detection as Heart Disease Risk Rises in India

Experts have called for a stronger focus on prevention, early detection and timely treatment of heart disease, urging people to undergo regular health check-ups, remain physically active and address risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol and tobacco use. The call comes as cardiovascular disease remains a major health challenge in India, with changing lifestyles, urbanisation and rising metabolic risks reshaping the country's disease burden.

According to the World Heart Federation, 3,165,172 people died from cardiovascular disease in India in 2024, with an age-standardised cardiovascular mortality rate of 274 per 100,000 people. Experts say the burden is increasingly linked to preventable risk factors, making early screening crucial.

Speaking to PTI, renowned heart surgeon Dr Shriram Nene said heart disease remains a major concern in India and globally, urging a shift from acute care towards prevention and early recognition. “Honestly, heart disease is endemic in India and around the world. We need to shift the discussion from acute care to prevention, early recognition and early treatment,” he said.

Cardiac surgeon and Medanta chairman and managing director Dr Naresh Trehan said greater attention is needed as younger people are increasingly affected by heart attacks and cardiac arrests. He advised people with a family history of heart disease and diabetes to undergo a check-up before 25, while those without such a history should have a comprehensive health check-up before 30. Genome sequencing, family history, biochemical parameters and lifestyle assessment, he said, can help establish individual risk profiles.

Hypertension is a major concern. WHO estimates around 210.2 million Indians aged 30-79 have hypertension, with about 173.9 million having uncontrolled blood pressure. Only around 17 per cent have their condition under control. WHO also estimates that nearly half of Indian adults aged 18 and above were physically inactive in 2022, while average salt consumption stood at about 10 grams a day, twice the recommended limit.

Public health expert Prof Monika Arora linked rising cardiovascular disease to changing lifestyles and the shift from traditional diets towards Western diets. She also highlighted risks from smoking, smokeless tobacco and newer nicotine products such as vapes. Tobacco use affected around 24 per cent of Indians aged 15 and above in 2022, according to WHO.

Dr Amit Gupta stressed metabolic health, including control of blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, cholesterol and fatty liver, while flagging childhood obesity as a growing concern.

The message assumes added significance after World Heart Day on September 29 and the World Heart Federation's 2026 “Don't Miss a Beat” campaign. With cardiovascular disease continuing to claim millions of lives globally, experts say India must move beyond treating emergencies towards early risk detection, stronger primary healthcare and sustained prevention.