The Path where our Lifestyle is Taking us: Shift in Onset of Non-Communicable Diseases

Abstract

Globally, the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is rising. To assess the trends in the age of occurrence of non-communicable, age-related diseases this study was performed in the three districts of Uttarakhand, in both rural and the urban settings. The study comprised of both male and female subjects between the age group of 15 years to 55 onwards. The respondents were categorized into three age groups range as- 15-35 years, 36-55 years, and above 56 years. Starting from the age of 5 years, each age group is also categorized decade-wise e.g. age group of 56 years and above was divided into six decades starting from the age of five years.  The present study showed that the occurrence of age-related diseases, among the age group 56 years and above, was seen during their 40s while in the other two age groups, occurrence was recorded in the 30s itself. Comparing the third decade, i.e., the 30s of all the three age groups, none of the subjects was suffering from age-related disease among 56 years and above while among 36-55 years of age, 0.57 percent and among 15-35 years of age, 1.35 percent of subjects suffered from hypertension. The occurrence of these diseases was more in the urban areas as compared to rural areas. These results throw an insight onto the necessity for government bodies to focus on key factors leading to this trend, improving health care quality, and emphasis on a healthy lifestyle.