Times of India
13 February, 2010
Chennai, India

Survey Shows 70% People Have Abnormal Lipids, 43% Diabetes, 30% High BP
A comprehensive health study, reportedly the biggest in the country, by citybased Sri Ramachandra University has found that only one in 24 Chennaiites is a completely “normal, healthy and fit” human being.

The study, funded by the Union government, screened 6,000 Chennaiites and found only 250 of them were without any disorders. In the others, doctors noticed one of the 18 disorders including diabetes, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, abnormal lipids, stress, depression, anxiety or other lifestyle–related problems that could trigger heart diseases or stroke.

The yet–to–be published ‘cohort’ study showed 43% of the people had abnormal glucose metabolism, 17.3% were diabetic, 70.3% had abnormal lipid profiles, 30% had high blood pressure and 13.1% had albumin in their urine. Besides these, the study showed at least 16.1% of the people were stressed, 18% had depression and another 18% suffered from anxiety.

While data from phase 1 and 2 of the three–year–long epidemiological study funded by the department of science and technology was released by deputy chief minister M K Stalin on Friday, the researchers did not make the entire data public as it is yet to be peer reviewed.

Researchers hope that such studies – being the largest in the country – would not just yield a lot of research papers in international journals, but also provide vital inputs for doctors and policy makers.

“The Framingham Heart Study is said to be the largest study. We depend on these studies for several references because these people have been followed up now for nearly 40 years,” said Dr S Thanikachalam, who led the team of 32 investigators.

Scientist GJ Samathanam, head (TDT division) of the department of science and technology, said the study was one of the few large studies funded by the Centre. “We have allotted Rs 5 crore for the project,” he said. Raw data culled out of the research has attracted a lot of attention.

State health minister MRK Panneerselvam said his department would do a state–wide study on diabetes and hypertension and funds would be allotted during the upcoming budget. Other senior doctors like diabetologist Dr V Mohan said rapidly changing lifestyles combined with genetic predisposition had been playing havoc with people’s health. “Our study with 26,000 people has shown a 17.3% prevalence. This is a six–fold increase in just 30 years. Hypertension levels were equally high,” he said.

Nephrologist Dr Rajan Ravichandran said it was important to evolve Indian standards for diagnostic values that would be more appropriate in detecting kidney diseases. “Such studies will help us evolve our own standards. Currently, we have been using Western parameters for diagnosis. There has been an increase in people showing up albumin in urea. If a repeat test confirms the same, it would mean that the person has kidney disease,” he said.

Chest of Diseases Unearthed

• 6,000 Chennai residents were screened for a population health study and only 240 were found to be normal, healthy and fit
• The on–going study targets to screen 8,025 in the urban, rural and semi urban areas in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram
• 43% of the people had abnormal glucose metabolism and 17.3% were diabetic
• 70.3% had abnormal lipid profiles
• Up to 30% have had an elevated blood pressure – while 30% had 130/20 against the normal 120/80, 17% had 140/90
• 13.1% have albumin in their urine
• At least 16.1% of the people were stressed, 18% had depression and 18% suffered anxiety