Burden of lung diseases in India likely much higher than Lancet study's projection: Doctors
Lancet study, due to high levels of air pollution and tobacco consumption. According to the study published in May, ischaemic heart disease will continue to be the leading cause of death around the world, followed by stroke, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In ischaemic heart disease, narrowing of vessels in the organ reduces blood flow.
The study projected that men and women around the world could live longer by up to five and four years, respectively.
«It is going to remain the number one killer and disabling disease with continued bad lifestyle and increasing stress. Yet, there is a lack of understanding of the exact mechanism of formation of these blockages (in the heart's blood vessels). Till we understand the mechanism, the solutions cannot be found,» said Dr Atul Mathur, Executive Director, Interventional Cardiology and Chief of Cath Lab, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi.
However, the doctors also cautioned that the overall chest disease burden in India will be much higher than what the study predicts, owing to continuing earlier challenges of infectious diseases, along with air pollution and smoking.
«This is because we continue to struggle with the earlier problems of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis. On the other hand, we have started seeing a massive increase in new age diseases like lung cancer,» said Dr Arvind Kumar, Chairman, Institute of Chest Surgery, Chest Onco Surgery and Lung Transplantation, Medanta Hospital, Gurugram.
High levels of air
