Telangana: Dyslipidaemia Widespread Among Adults: ICMR
The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, are based on blood samples from 23,665 adults across India: Reports
HYDERABAD: Nearly nine out of every 10 Indian adults (87.3 per cent) suffer from some form of dyslipidaemia — abnormal levels of blood lipids that raise the risk of heart disease, heart attacks and stroke — according to a nationwide study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research–India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB).
The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, are based on blood samples from 23,665 adults across India. Researchers said cholesterol disorders are no longer confined to a small section of the population but have become a widespread public health concern.
The study found dyslipidaemia prevalent in both urban and rural India. While 89 per cent of urban residents had abnormal lipid levels, the prevalence in rural areas was nearly as high at 86.5 per cent, showing the problem extends beyond urban lifestyles.
Women were found to be more affected than men, with prevalence at 91.1 per cent compared to 83.5 per cent among men. The most common abnormality was low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol, affecting 66.8 per cent of the population.
A worrying trend was observed among younger Indians. Unlike Western countries, where cholesterol disorders peak between ages 50 and 60, the highest prevalence in India was among adults aged 30 to 39, exposing the working-age population to cardiovascular risk much earlier.
Researchers also found that 40 per cent of people without diabetes, hypertension or obesity still had abnormal lipid profiles, indicating that even those who consider themselves healthy may be at risk.
The study recommends routine lipid profile screening for all adults, including younger individuals, rather than limiting it to older people or those with existing medical conditions.
