Diabetes And Hypertension Becoming Twin Epidemic

Fri, 11 Nov 2011

India is facing a twin epidemic of diabetes and high blood pressure, doctors have warned, after the results of a nationwide study suggested that one in five people suffered from both conditions.

The two-year survey of nearly 16,000 adults in eight states found that 21 per cent of patients had diabetes and hypertension .

Just over a third (35 per cent) had diabetes, while nearly half (46 per cent) were hypertensive, according to the Screening India’s Twin Epidemic or SITE research, which was conducted by Aventis Pharma Limited - a unit of French healthcare group Sanofi.

Shashank Joshi, a consultant endocrinologist at the private Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, said the results indicated that the conditions "are indeed becoming a twin epidemic across the country".

He added: "What is even more worrisome is that 70 per cent of the patients surveyed have ‘uncontrolled’ diabetes, including diabetics who are currently undergoing treatment."

"This figure not only demands immediate attention but also the implementation of necessary measures."

The research also found that seven per cent of diabetics and 22 per cent of people with high blood pressure were unaware of their condition.

Dr Bhaswati Mukherjee, associate director of cardio metabolism at Sanofi India, said the findings "will help the governments at the national and state levels to set guidelines to control the twin epidemic".

India has the highest number of diabetics in the world at just under 51 million people, but experts have warned this number could increase by nearly 150 per cent in the next 20 years.

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