Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: World Heart Day

Mains level: World Heart Day, Rising burden of Cardio vascular diseases, efforts and challenges

What’s the news?

World Heart Day, observed globally on September 29, serves as a crucial reminder of the escalating threat posed by cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and the need to promote heart-healthy lifestyles.

Central idea

World Heart Day, an annual event, initiated by the World Heart Federation in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2000, seeks to heighten awareness, engage communities, and advocate for universal access to CVD prevention, detection, and treatment. Tackling the silent epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in India demands a multi-pronged approach.

On World Heart Day, several English-language national dailies published full-page advertorials, which are advertisements designed to resemble written articles. These advertorials aimed to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and promote heart-healthy lifestyles.
The content of these advertorials seemed to provide information about CVD rather than directly promoting a product.
Notably, there was limited involvement or a meaningful campaign by public health agencies like the Union Ministry of Health in raising awareness about CVD on this occasion.
These advertorials were sponsored by the diagnostics, devices, and pharmaceutical industries, indicating a partnership between these industries and media outlets for public awareness efforts.
Additionally, clinicians from high-end corporate tertiary care hospitals contributed by providing lifestyle modification advisories as part of the public awareness campaign

Data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021) and the 2017-18 National NCD Monitoring Survey (NNMS) in India reveals concerning statistics about hypertension.
The NFHS-5 data shows that 18.3 percent of the country’s population has hypertension, while the NNMS reports a higher rate of 28.5 percent among individuals aged 18-69.
These percentages translate to significant numbers, given India’s large population.
Both surveys highlight low levels of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension.

The NNMS data indicates that only 28 percent of those with hypertension were aware of it.
Among those aware, 52 percent were receiving treatment, and a smaller percentage had their blood pressure under control.
Disparities exist based on factors such as education, income, and geographic location, with better access to healthcare services in south India.
Vulnerable groups, including males, illiterates, those with lower income, rural residents, smokers, and alcohol users, were less likely to be part of the treatment cascades.

India launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010, expanding its implementation.
The program primarily focuses on screening and treatment.
India is committed to the principles of primary healthcare and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as outlined in the 2018 Astana Declaration.

Challenges include inadequate awareness, limited healthcare access in various regions, and disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. More resources are needed for primary healthcare.
Contemporary approaches to managing CVD heavily emphasize risk factors, particularly lifestyle-related ones like diet, physical activity, smoking, and obesity.

Epigenetic modifications may emerge as a consequence of a lifetime of disadvantage, structural inequalities, and discrimination, thereby influencing future generations.

Contemporary approaches to managing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) emphasize lifestyle risk factors.
The WHO’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health highlights that these risk factors often result from systemic compromises rather than individual choices.
The Commission emphasizes addressing socioeconomic factors that affect health across an individual’s lifespan and calls for equity and social justice in healthcare.

As the WHO rightly asserts, Reducing health inequities is… an ethical imperative. Social injustice is killing people on a grand scale. World Heart Day serves as a stark reminder that the battle against CVD must continue with renewed vigor and a holistic perspective.