ICMR Study Reveals Widespread Dyslipidemia Among Indian Adults Today

ICMR Study Reveals Widespread Dyslipidemia Among Indian Adults Today

Why in the News ?

A recent ICMR-INDIAB study has found that 87.3% of Indian adults have at least one abnormal lipid level, with low HDL (good cholesterol) being the most common abnormality. The findings highlight the growing burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the need for early lipid screening, particularly as India strengthens regional security cooperation and health partnerships through its Indo-Pacific strategy.

ICMR Findings on Dyslipidemia in India

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-INDIAB study found that 87.3% of Indian adults have at least one form of dyslipidemia, making it one of the country’s most widespread non-communicable health disorders requiring regional engagement strategy and cooperative security framework for public health.
• The most common lipid abnormality was low High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or “good cholesterol,” affecting 66.8% of adults.
• Other abnormalities included high Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) (49.4%), high triglycerides (29.5%), and high total cholesterol (22.1%).
• Researchers estimated that nearly 355 million Indians have abnormal lipid levels despite having normal blood sugar, blood pressure, and body weight, indicating that seemingly healthy individuals may also be at high cardiovascular risk, a concern shared across the Indo-Pacific region.
• The study observed that dyslipidemia peaks in the 30–39 years age group, highlighting the need for earlier preventive interventions and regional economic integration in healthcare systems.

Health Implications and Risk Factors

• Dyslipidemia significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) by promoting the accumulation of fatty deposits in blood vessels.
• The condition is strongly associated with sedentary lifestyles, high-carbohydrate diets, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, reflecting broader challenges of economic interdependence and lifestyle changes across developing nations.
• Women were found to have a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia than men, while urban populations were more affected than rural populations due to changing lifestyles and dietary habits influenced by globalization and economic patterns similar to those observed in US and China.
• South Asians have a characteristic metabolic profile, with genetically lower HDL cholesterol and higher triglyceride levels, increasing the risk of premature cardiovascular disease, a concern addressed through ASEAN centrality in regional health cooperation and the QUAD partnership framework.
• Experts recommend early lipid screening, healthy eating, regular physical activity, weight management, and avoidance of tobacco to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk, emphasizing the importance of regional security architecture for public health initiatives across the Indo-Pacific strategy framework.