New Delhi, September 2025 – In stark contrast to global trends, India has seen an increase in deaths from non-communicable (chronic) diseases in the decade leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new Lancet study. The increase has been more pronounced in women, underscoring widening gender disparities in health outcomes.

🔍 Key findings

Between 2010 and 2019, the probability of dying from an NCD before age 80 rose by 2.1% for Indian women and 0.1% for men

For women, the risk climbed from 46.7% in 2001 to 48.7% in 2019 (after dipping slightly in 2011). Among men, the rise was from 56.0% to 57.9% over the same span.

The elevated mortality risk is especially significant for women over 40, and for men over 55.

⚠️ What’s driving the trend?

Ischemic heart disease and diabetes (including diabetes-related kidney disease) emerged as the biggest contributors to the rising chronic disease death rates for both sexes. The Indian Express+2Moneycontrol+2

While some improvements were seen — such as reductions in deaths from cirrhosis and COPD — these were not enough to offset the increases in heart disease and diabetes, particularly among women.

Experts point to late diagnosis, low preventive care, changing lifestyles (urbanisation, sedentary habits, poor diet) and gendered barriers to healthcare access as central to the worsening trend.

🧭 Implications and response

The report has prompted calls for urgent reform in India’s public health strategy. Strengthening early screening, chronic disease management, and gender-specific health outreach are seen as essential to curb rising mortality.

Public health advocates believe that without targeted interventions, the increased burden of NCDs could strain India’s healthcare system and reverse decades of gains in life expectancy and quality of life.