25th September, Bangalore:Â The general consensus is that Heart Disease is more prevalent in Men but Saffolalife Study 2014 has revealed an alarming fact that women in India are equally prone to cardiovascular diseases . In India, in fact women are more at risk of heart disease today than 3 three years ago
The three-year long Saffolalife study, which is India’s largest study on risk factors causing heart disease, revealed that three out of every five women out of the 51.7 thousand urban India female respondents are at cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It is astonishing to note that this high risk of heart disease sets in as early as 35 years of age in women.
The Saffolalife study was conducted in twelve leading metro and non-metro cities of India on 1.6 lakh urban Indians out of which, 32 percent respondents were females and 92 percent of all female respondents were less than 60 years of age. The data from the study was analyzed by IMRB International.
Supporting the Saffolalife study, Dr. B.G. Muralidhara, Interventional Cardiologist and Chief of Cardiology, Trinity Hospital and Heart Foundation said “Cardiovascular diseases (CVD)in women are caused due to low HDL and high BMI. Apart from this smoking, diabetes and high BP are other reasons putting women at risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
In comparison to other 11 cities, 67% women above the age of 35 are at risk of CVD in Bangalore. Also, 63 % of women above the age of 35 in Bangalore lead a sedentary lifestyle, and 53% of Bangalore women are obese. Additionally, the dietary analysis reflected that women, here, are negligent about their diet as 70% of them consume less than two servings of wholegrain in a day and only 5% consume the recommended 5 servings of vegetables and salads in a day. 52% of Bangalore women above the age of 35 years feel drained at least once a week. This shows that women in Bangalore are at high risk of CVD.
Women’s heart health is a cause of concern as she is the caregiver in a family managing many roles. The findings of the study also revealed that housewives are as much at risk of CVD as working women.
Facts about Cardiovascular Risk in Indian women
1.In India, women are more at risk of heart disease today than 3 three years ago
2.The largest group of women at risk of CVD are aged 35-44
3.CVD risk is as high amongst housewives as it is amongst working professionals. 69 percent of Housewives and 67 percent of working professionals over the age of 35 in India are at the risk of CVD
As far as risk factors for CVD are concerned, it was found that low HDL and high BMI are the two most common contributors to CVD risk setting in as early as 35 years for women.
Key findings on risk factors – for CVD risk setting in as early as 35 years
1. Being Overweight is not just about aesthetics, its straining your heart too
• 3 in 4 women above the age of 35 who are overweight or obese are at risk of CVD
2. Not enough ‘good’ cholesterol a key reason for CVD risk in Women
• 8 in 10 women above the age of 35 who are at CVD risk have low HDL as high level of HDL cholesterol reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease
3. Smoking , Diabetes and High BP are putting women at CVD risk early
• 90% of women smokers above the age of 35 are at the risk of CVD
• 97% of women with diabetes above the age of 35 are at the risk of CVD
• 95% of women above the age of 35 with high BP are at the risk of CVD
4. CVD Risk in Housewives & Working Women
• 69% of Housewives above 35 years are at risk of Heart disease
• 67% of working women above 35 years are at risk of Heart disease
• Housewives at risk of CVD are more likely to be overweight than working women; and more prone to diabetes also.
• Among women at risk: Working women are less physically active than housewives
Lifestyle factors have also contributed to the increase in CVD risk. In fact it was seen that poor lifestyle choices at an early age (35-44) are common among women at CVD risk
As Dr. Priyanka Rohatgi, Chief Dietitian, Apollo Hospital says “High saturated fat, sugar and salt intake, rising stress levels, smoking and a lack of physical activity are few of the major contributory factors for deterioration of heart health in women.
Key findings on Lifestyle Factors-for CVD risk setting in as early as 35 years
1. Women not making their nutritional needs a priority are at the risk of Heart Disease
73% women above the age of 35 at CVD risk consume 2 or less servings of whole grains per day
2. Â Lack of Physical Activity is putting you at risk of Heart Disease more than you think
70% women above the age of 35 at CVD risk are physically active less than thrice a week
3. Working women fare worse than Housewives 56% working women above the age of 35 at risk of CVD eat less than 1 serving of vegetables per day as compared to 46% housewives in the same age bracket.
73% working women above the age of 35 who are at risk of CVD are physically active less than thrice a week as compared to 69% housewives in the same age group.
The most important takeaway is that the first step to a healthy heart is for women to assess their current heart condition and hence the immediate need is to go for a heart check-up (cholesterol test). However, the Saffolalife Study disclosed a disturbing fact that out of the women who are at risk if CVD above the age of 35 only 15.4% have ever been to a cholesterol (lipid test) check–up. The number is even lower for younger women aged 35-44 at 7.8%.# This means that women ignore their own health and are not aware of the extent of risk of cardiovascular disease and are thus unable to take steps for a better heart health.
We need to encourage women to go for a heart health check-up and accompany her to one. That is why this World Heart Day, Saffolalife through the “protect her initiative†is driving awareness of women’s heart health and urging women to take the first step towards heart health by going for a cholesterol check-up.
We invite you to join hands with Saffolalife for the campaign “Protect he rheart†to drive awareness of the message and accompany your loved ones (wife, mother, sister) to a Saffolalife cholesterol checkup.
Pan-India key findings on Lifestyle Factors-for CVD risk setting in as early as 35 years
4. Women not making their nutritional needs a priority are at the risk of Heart Disease
73% women above the age of 35 at CVD risk consume 2 or less servings of whole grains per day
5. Â Lack of Physical Activity is putting you at risk of Heart Disease more than you think
70% women above the age of 35 at CVD risk are physically active less than thrice a week.
6. Working women fare worse than Housewives
56% working women above the age of 35 at risk of CVD eat less than 1 serving of vegetables per day as compared to 46% housewives in the same age bracket.
73% working women above the age of 35 are at risk of CVD are physically active less than thrice a week as compared to 69% housewives in the same age group.
The most important takeaway is that the first step to a healthy heart is for women to assess her current heart condition and hence the immediate need is to go for a heart health assessment test. However, the Saffolalife Study disclosed a disturbing fact that out of the women above the age of 35 who are at risk of CVD only 15.4% have ever been to a cholesterol (lipid test) check–up. The number is even lower for younger women aged 35-44 at 7.8%.* This means that women ignore their own health and are not aware of the extent of risk of cardiovascular disease thus are unable to take steps for a better heart health.
We invite you to join hands with Saffolalife for the campaign “Protect her heart†to drive awareness of the message and accompany your loved ones (wife, mother, sister) to a Saffolalife cholesterol check-up.
About Saffolalife Study: Saffolalifeâ„¢ is a not-for-profit initiative started by Saffola around 14 years ago. The objective of Saffolalife is to spread awareness of the risk of heart ailments in India, and hence bring down the deaths caused due to Cardio-vascular diseases. Saffolalifeâ„¢ has within its fold various initiatives which include the Heart Age Finder and the Saffolalifeâ„¢ Study. In the past it has carried out over 88,000 free cholesterol tests across the country. Every year, the Saffolalife Study, one of the largest with a sample size of over a lakh Indians analyses and offers a deeper understanding into the reasons behind the ailing heart health of Indians..
*Data based on a Saffolalife Survey done in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata Bangalore among 624 respondents
For : IBC WORLD NEWS.
