Keralites, urban Indian males more at cardiovascular disease risk: Study
New Delhi, June 20 : People living in Kerala and males living in urban areas in India are more at the risk of cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk than those in the rural areas, finds a study of nearly 800,000 people.
The nationwide risk study, conducted by researchers from the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and Harvard University, showed that the average 10-year risk of a fatal or nonfatal CVD event varied widely among states in India, ranging from 13.2 per cent in Jharkhand to 19.5 per cent in Kerala, with wealthier and more urbanised states tending to have a higher risk.
"CVD has emerged as a leading cause of death in India however, the prevalence varies among states and different socio-economic groups. Early assessment of CVD among high risk population and targeted efforts can reduce substantial premature mortality and morbidity," said Ashish Awasthi, Assistant Professor at PHFI.
The results, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, was based on two large household surveys carried out between 2012 and 2014, which included a sample of 797,540 adults aged 30 to 74 years across India.
People living in southern states of India namely Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, including Goa, and those living in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, are more at the risk of CVD. The list also includes the northeastern states (except Assam), and West Bengal (particularly among males).
"CVD risk varied widely among states and we also observed important variation of cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as smoking and diabetes, by adults' socio-demographic characteristics," added Pascal Geldsetzer from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
"Our findings could be helpful in deciding how to allocate resources to prevent CVD to those most in need."
The study also determined that smoking was more prevalent in poorer households and rural areas, whereas body mass index, high blood glucose, and systolic blood pressure -- indicators of CVD risk -- were associated with household wealth and urban location.
The key findings and mapping of CVD risk across the states of India may guide us to reach the pockets at high risk for immediate and effective implementation of relevant programs and towards formulation of new policies.
"This study clearly demonstrates the need for translational research on diabetes and hypertension prevention and management in India. It also highlights the urgent need for population-wide interventions such as the elimination of artificial trans fat and sodium reduction as well as reducing tobacco use," the researchers noted.
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Trouble ‘Miyas’ everywhere only then they will leave Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Says “Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP are openly against them, we are saying it openly
New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that four to five lakh “Miya voters” would be removed from the electoral rolls in the state once the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists is carried out. He also made a series of controversial remarks openly targeting the Miya community, a term commonly used in Assam in a derogatory sense to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an official programme in Digboi in Tinsukia district, Sarma said it was his responsibility to create difficulties for the Miya community and claimed that both he and the BJP were “directly against Miyas”.
“Four to five lakh Miya votes will have to be deleted in Assam when the SIR happens,” Sarma said, adding that such voters “should ideally not be allowed to vote in Assam, but in Bangladesh”. He asserted that the government was ensuring that they would not be able to vote in the state.
The chief minister was responding to questions about notices issued to thousands of Bengali-speaking Muslims during the claims and objections phase of the ongoing Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls in Assam. While the Election Commission is conducting SIR exercises in 12 states and Union Territories, Assam is currently undergoing an SR, which is usually meant for routine updates.
Calling the current SR “preliminary”, Sarma said that a full-fledged SIR in Assam would lead to large-scale deletion of Miya voters. He said he was unconcerned about criticism from opposition parties over the issue.
“Let the Congress abuse me as much as they want. My job is to make the Miya people suffer,” Sarma said. He claimed that complaints filed against members of the community were done on his instructions and that he had encouraged BJP workers to keep filing complaints.
“I have told people wherever possible they should fill Form 7 so that they have to run around a little and are troubled,” he said, adding that such actions were meant to send a message that “the Assamese people are still living”.
In remarks that drew further outrage, Sarma urged people to trouble members of the Miya community in everyday life, claiming that “only if they face troubles will they leave Assam”. He also accused the media of sympathising with the community and warned journalists against such coverage.
“So you all should also trouble, and you should not do news that sympathise with them. There will be love jihad in your own house.” He said.
The comments triggered reactions from opposition leaders. Raijor Dal president and MLA Akhil Gogoi said the people of Assam had not elected Sarma to keep one community under constant pressure. Congress leader Aman Wadud accused the chief minister of rendering the Constitution meaningless in the state, saying his remarks showed a complete disregard for constitutional values.
According to the draft electoral rolls published on December 27, Assam currently has 2.51 crore voters. Election officials said 4.78 lakh names were marked as deceased, 5.23 lakh as having shifted, and 53,619 duplicate entries were removed during the revision process. Authorities also claimed that verification had been completed for over 61 lakh households.
On January 25, six opposition parties the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad, CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(M-L) submitted a memorandum to the state’s chief electoral officer. They alleged widespread legal violations, political interference and selective targeting of genuine voters during the SR exercise, describing it as arbitrary, unlawful and unconstitutional.
