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In light of recent findings indicating an increase in global life expectancy by 2050, experts have emphasized the urgent need to enhance preventive health measures to mitigate the impending burden of diseases. The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021, recently published in The Lancet, forecasts a rise in life expectancy by 4.9 years in men and 4.2 years in women, despite ongoing geopolitical, metabolic, and environmental threats.
However, the extended lifespan comes with a caveat: more years spent in poor health, plagued by cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes. “Unless we take preventive health more seriously, our health systems will not be able to cope with the huge burden of disease,” warned Dr. Lancelot Pinto, Consultant Pulmonologist and Epidemiologist at P. D. Hinduja Hospital and MRC, Mahim.
Dr. Pinto highlighted the paradox of prosperity, explaining that improved nutrition and robust vaccination programs historically reduce infectious diseases as countries prosper. However, prosperity also brings dietary and lifestyle changes that can lead to chronic illnesses. The study predicts that ischemic heart disease will remain the leading cause of mortality globally by 2050, followed by strokes and COPD.
For India, the study predicts a significant increase in the burden of COPD, a common lung disease. Dr. Pinto attributed this to India’s status as a leading producer and consumer of tobacco, adding that air pollution, the use of indoor biomass fuels, and poor lung development in childhood are additional risk factors. “The overall chest disease burden in India will be much higher than in the West because we continue to struggle with infectious diseases like tuberculosis, alongside a rise in new age diseases like lung cancer,” stated Dr. Arvind Kumar, Chairman of the Institute of Chest Surgery, Chest Onco Surgery, and Lung Transplantation at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram. He noted that the COPD burden in India might surpass current predictions.
The study also highlights an increased risk of ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, which leads to obstructive blockages in the arteries due to atherosclerotic plaques. “Reduced blood supply to the heart muscle results in angina, serving as a warning signal. A sudden blood clot formation on top of these blockages can result in a heart attack,” explained Dr. Atul Mathur, Executive Director of Interventional Cardiology and Chief of Cath Lab at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi.
In light of these findings, experts are urging the implementation of preventive measures, including healthy eating, regular exercise, and effective control of hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol. By prioritizing preventive health, we can hope to alleviate the anticipated strain on health systems and improve the quality of life for future generations.
