India has witnessed a rapid increase in non-communicable diseases, including a significant rise in cancer cases, positioning the country at the forefront of this global health challenge.
The 4th edition of Apollo Hospitals’ Health of the Nation Report, released on World Health Day 2024, reveals alarming statistics: approximately one-third of Indians are pre-diabetic, two-thirds are at the pre-hypertensive stage, and one in every ten individuals is experiencing depression.
The report notably identifies India as the “cancer capital of the world,” emphasizing the surge in cancer incidents within the nation. It underscores the growing healthcare crisis, particularly noting that a large number of severe disease cases are being identified in younger populations. Younger individuals often exhibit more aggressive symptoms of cancer, diagnosed at a later stage, not merely due to delays in seeking diagnosis.
Lifestyle factors such as lack of physical activity, sedentary job nature, and poor diet are cited as primary contributors to this trend. Additionally, genetic predispositions and environmental exposures are acknowledged as contributing factors leading to an increase in cancer cases among the youth.
A study published in BMJ Journal predicts a significant global increase in early-onset cancer diagnoses and mortality rates over the coming years. Specific cancers, such as colorectal and breast cancer, have seen a marked increase in incidence among younger adults compared to decades ago, as reported by JAMA Network Open.
In India, the most prevalent cancers are found in the breast, cervix, and ovary among women, and lung, mouth, and prostate among men, with diagnosis occurring at a relatively younger median age compared to other countries. Despite these trends, cancer screening rates in India remain critically low.
