A REVIEW ON NEED OF RESEARCH AND CLOSE OBSERVATION ON CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN INDIA

Several surveys conducted across the country over the past two decades have shown a rising prevalence of major risk factors for CVD in urban and rural populations. The problem of increasing risk factor for CVD in India is because of lack of surveillance system and lack of proper diagnosis. These surveys are limited only to some parts of the country mostly developed and hence an action plan has to be initiated to improve its range in rural areas also. The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is causing increase in morbidity and premature mortality in developing countries. In 1990, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) accounted for 63 per cent of all deaths and India contributed to 17 per cent to the worldwide mortality. There was lack of an organized national system for monitoring these risk factors over time so as to inform policy and program for appropriate interventions and research. This survey paper provides the scenario of CVD in India