1.08 cr people battling diabetes, high BP in AP

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh is confronting a massive but largely silent public health crisis, with statewide screening identifying more than 1.08 crore cases of hypertension and diabetes. More alarmingly, approximately 34 lakh people are suffering from both conditions simultaneously, placing them at significantly higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and other serious complications.

With the state’s population exceeding 5.37 crore, the findings underline the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are increasingly emerging as a major public health challenge.Even more concerning, the statewide screening programme has uncovered nearly 24 lakh previously unidentified cases of high blood pressure and diabetes, exposing textent of lifestyle-related diseases across the State. The findings of the NCD 4.0 survey, conducted over 14 months, present a worrying picture.

The health department identified 12,23,185 new hypertension cases and 11,58,632 new diabetes cases. This takes the total number of hypertension cases to 59.63 lakh and diabetes cases to 48.95 lakh. Of the combined 1.0858 crore cases, approximately 34 lakh involve people suffering from both conditions. After accounting for this overlap, the estimated number of individuals affected by at least one of the two conditions stands at around 74.58 lakh.

The scale of the problem is not confined to older people. Although those aged above 60 account for the largest share of cases, the survey has also identified substantial numbers among younger adults. Nearly 2.90 lakh hypertension cases and 2.87 lakh diabetes cases were recorded in the 30-39 age group alone. Among those aged 40-49, the numbers rose to approximately 10 lakh for hypertension and 9.22 lakh for diabetes. The 50-59 age group accounted for 29.2 per cent of hypertension cases and 30.16 per cent of diabetes cases.

The survey also uncovered 12,768 cancer cases, including 3,339 oral cancers, 5,832 breast cancers and 3,597 cervical cancers, highlighting another major public health challenge.

The 14 month exercise, launched by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Visakhapatnam on September 17 last year, concluded on November 10. More than 2.85 crore people aged 18 and above were screened for hypertension, diabetes and oral cancer, while 1.46 crore women underwent breast and cervical cancer screening.

The cancer findings are particularly significant. Of the 9.96 lakh suspected oral cancer cases examined by medical officers, 23,009 were referred to higher medical facilities, where 3,339 cancers were confirmed. Similarly, 5,832 breast cancer cases and 3,597 cervical cancer cases were detected among women referred for further examination.

The geographical spread is equally revealing. Visakhapatnam recorded the highest number of newly identified cases, with 78,017 hypertension and 80,692 diabetes cases. West Godavari, Tirupati, East Godavari and YSR Kadapa also figured among the districts reporting the highest new caseloads.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Hans India