Dramatic Rise in Chronic Disease Deaths in India: Women Hit Hardest, Says Lancet Study

New Delhi, 17 September, 2025: India, a nation still facing the dual burden of infectious disease and malnutrition, is now grappling significantly with rising mortality from non-communicable or chronic diseases (NCDs). A recent global analysis has revealed an alarming trend: India is among the countries where deaths due to chronic illnesses have increased for both men and women between 2010 and 2019. Disturbingly, women appear to have been affected more severely.

This article unpacks what the study found, why women are hit harder, what the main disease drivers are, and what India can do to stem this growing public health crisis.

What the Data Shows

• Globally, most countries have seen declines in death rates from NCDs.
• But India is among the exceptions: the probability of dying from chronic disease has increased for both sexes.
• Women in India have seen a bigger increase in risk compared with men.
• Heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers are the leading drivers of this rise.
• Other conditions such as dementia and neuropsychiatric disorders, including those related to alcohol use, have also offset some gains made elsewhere.

Why Women Are Hit Harder

Although chronic disease risk has increased for both men and women in India, the rise for women has been steeper. Several possible reasons stand out:

1. Biological Differences
   Women’s physiology, including hormonal and cardiovascular differences, can make diseases like heart disease manifest differently or more severely, especially after menopause.
2. Healthcare Access and Gender Gaps
   Social, cultural, and economic barriers often limit women’s access to preventive healthcare, early diagnosis, and treatment. Women may delay care due to caregiving responsibilities or financial constraints.
3. Risk Factor Exposure
   Sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, rising obesity, and exposure to second-hand smoke or indoor air pollution increase women’s risks.
4. Sociocultural and Economic Determinants
   Lower education, reduced decision-making power, and nutritional disparities contribute to delayed detection and treatment.
5. Non-Recognition of Symptoms
   Especially in conditions like heart disease and diabetes, symptoms often present differently in women, leading to under-diagnosis or misdiagnosis.

Main Drivers of the Rise

• Heart disease: Remains the leading cause of chronic disease deaths, driven by hypertension, high cholesterol, stress, and sedentary habits.
• Diabetes: Rising prevalence, late diagnosis, and complications contribute heavily to mortality.
• Cancers: Some cancers such as liver and pancreatic cancers have increased, offsetting improvements in others.
• Neuropsychiatric diseases: Dementia and alcohol-related conditions are rising, adding to the chronic disease burden.

Global Context

• In most countries, both men and women are seeing reductions in premature deaths from chronic diseases.
• Nations such as China, Brazil, and Egypt have achieved notable declines.
• India, by contrast, stands out as one of the few major countries where mortality has increased, indicating systemic challenges in prevention and treatment.

Implications for India

1. Health Infrastructure Under Strain
   Rising NCD deaths demand long-term care, hospital resources, and specialized treatment, creating significant pressure on already stretched systems.
2. Economic Burden
   Chronic diseases reduce productivity, increase out-of-pocket expenses, and push families into financial distress due to long treatment durations.
3. SDG Goals at Risk
   India has committed to reducing premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030 under the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Rising deaths threaten this progress.
4. Gender Equity Challenge
   Since women are disproportionately affected, failure to act risks worsening existing health inequalities.

Strategies for Change

1. Prevention and Early Diagnosis

• Strengthen primary care with early screening for hypertension, diabetes, and cancers.
• Expand community awareness campaigns focusing on women.
• Encourage healthy lifestyles: physical activity, balanced diets, and reduced tobacco and alcohol use.

2. Access to Affordable Treatment

• Improve access to diagnostics and essential medicines in rural and underserved areas.
• Make drugs for diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease widely affordable.
• Enhance follow-up care and chronic disease management systems.

3. Gender-Sensitive Policies

• Address barriers that prevent women from seeking care.
• Tailor health campaigns and screenings to women’s needs.
• Train healthcare workers to recognize gender differences in symptoms and disease progression.

4. Strengthening Health Systems

• Improve data collection and disease surveillance, disaggregated by gender and region.
• Increase investment in research focusing on women’s health.
• Integrate NCD prevention into existing health and wellness programmes.

5. Multisectoral Approaches

• Address underlying determinants like air pollution, unhealthy diets, and poor urban planning.
• Promote cross-sector collaboration involving schools, workplaces, NGOs, and the private sector.

What Is Creating Problems?

• Resource Limitations: Health spending per capita remains low, with disparities between states.
• Behavioral Challenges: Changing dietary habits, reducing tobacco and alcohol use, and promoting exercise remain difficult.
• Awareness & Stigma: Mental health issues and cancers often carry stigma, preventing timely care.
• Healthcare Workforce Gaps: There are shortages of specialists and trained staff, especially in rural areas.

Current Efforts in India

• Ayushman Bharat and Health & Wellness Centres are improving access to primary healthcare and chronic disease management.
• National Programmes for Prevention and Control of NCDs are being scaled up but require more reach and integration.
• Swachh Bharat and Clean Air initiatives indirectly support reduced disease burden by improving sanitation and environmental health.
• Tobacco control and sugar reduction policies exist but need stronger enforcement.

The rise in chronic disease deaths in India, especially among women, is a pressing public health crisis. Without immediate interventions, the nation risks falling behind on health targets and losing hard-won gains in life expectancy and quality of life.

But the situation is not irreversible. Through stronger preventive measures, equitable access to healthcare, gender-sensitive policies, and robust investment in health systems, India can reverse these trends. Addressing the crisis requires urgency, innovation, and collaboration across sectors.