A recent study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has found that environmental exposure is a significant risk factor for the occurrence and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in adults in India. The researchers analysed data from over 60,000 people aged 45 years and above, in both rural and urban India. The findings suggested that older adults in India are prone to physiological risk followed by genetic, indoor environmental and behavioural risk factors, according to a statement released by the institute on Thursday.
Ramna Thakur, Associate Professor, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Mandi, who conducted the study along with her team of scholars, said, “A majority of the population of India resides in rural areas and uses unclean fuel for cooking and other purposes, exposing them to harmful smoke emitted from burning them.” She added that exposure to air pollutants is another significant risk factor for CVDs.
The study also identified behavioural risk factors such as physical inactivity leading to CVDs. The research team utilised data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), a nationally representative longitudinal survey.
Thakur further explained that several traditional risk factors for CVDs include high systolic blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, obesity, unhealthy food, poor nutritional status, age, family history, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The study found that second hand smoke exposure, commonly referred to as passive smoking, is believed to have similar cardiovascular effects and risks comparable to active smoking.