The study noted that “diabetes-related issues are more prevalent in men, making them particularly vulnerable to sudden cardiac events.”
Published Sep 29, 2025 | 4:30 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 29, 2025 | 4:48 PM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: A Redcliffe Labs study revealed over 80% of Indians have lipid derangements, escalating heart disease risks, with diabetes prevalent in 40% of cases. Urban lifestyles and young adults are increasingly affected. MGM Healthcare’s World Heart Day 2025 initiative screened Chennai Police, offering heart health checks and BLS training to combat India’s rising cardiac epidemic through early detection and lifestyle changes.
On World Heart Day 2025, a new nationwide study has revealed a worrying reality — more than 80 percent of Indians are showing lipid derangements and cholesterol imbalance, conditions that sharply raise the risk of heart disease.
The report, released by Redcliffe Labs after analysing 7 million diagnostic tests conducted between financial year 2024 and 2025 (FY24–FY25), offers a stark reminder that India is on the brink of a cardiac epidemic. Even with greater awareness, silent risks often go undetected.
This large-scale analysis aimed to assess the growing burden of lifestyle-related diseases and their connection to cardiac health.
According to Redcliffe Labs, the purpose of the study was to “shine a spotlight on the silent but alarming trends of lipid derangements, diabetes prevalence, and cardiac risk markers” to help policymakers, clinicians, and the public understand the urgency of preventive health measures.
By using real-world test data, the study sought to go beyond projections and provide a concrete picture of India’s heart health.
The choice to release these findings on World Heart Day 2025 reflects the lab’s intent to link national health awareness with evidence-based data.
The lab emphasised that while awareness around heart disease has grown, preventive health checks remain a neglected practice, often delaying timely interventions that could save lives.
In the words of Redcliffe’s leadership, the overarching aim was not only to document the crisis but to push for a cultural shift: making routine testing and lifestyle changes a norm rather than an exception.
The data highlights several worrying patterns. Lipid derangements (cholesterol and triglycerides) were found in over 70 percent of cases in FY24, climbing sharply to more than 80 percent in FY25. Describing this as “a sharp year-on-year rise that underlines the urgency of intervention,” study suggested that India is rapidly sliding into a cardiac health emergency.
The problem is not limited to cholesterol alone. More than 40 percent of individuals showed diabetes-related abnormalities, assessed through HbA1c, fasting glucose, and random glucose levels.
The study further noted that “diabetes-related issues are more prevalent in men, making them particularly vulnerable to sudden cardiac events.”
On the other hand, abnormalities in cardiac risk markers were more prevalent in women, indicating that women may display early warning signs and have greater opportunity for reversal if detected on time.
The findings also underscored a paradox: metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata, areas with higher awareness and access to healthcare, were among those reporting the highest prevalence of cholesterol abnormalities.
The report stressed that urban lifestyles, marked by processed foods and sedentary routines, are driving the crisis even in regions where preventive healthcare is most available.
Perhaps the most alarming conclusion of all was the presence of these risk factors in young adults under 20 years of age.
Once considered diseases of middle or old age, cholesterol imbalance, high sugar, and early cardiac strain are now being detected in teenagers and working-age populations. If left unaddressed, this trend could burden India with a generation facing premature heart disease, it stressed.
MGM Healthcare conducted a free heart health screening and counselling programme for over 1,000 police personnel from Chennai and nearby districts to mark World Heart Day 2025.
The initiative, held across three sessions on September 20, 23, and 27, included assessments of ECG, blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight, along with preventive health counselling.
The hospital also provided Basic Life Support (BLS) training, covering CPR, paediatric life support, and other critical first-responder procedures. Senior cardiologists from MGM Healthcare delivered talks on heart health, early detection, and preventive measures, highlighting the importance of timely intervention and lifestyle management.
Dr Jyotirmaya Dash, Senior Consultant, Interventional Cardiology, MGM Healthcare, noted that cardiovascular disease is one of India’s biggest health challenges, accounting for nearly 27 percent of all non-communicable disease deaths.
“Heart attacks are striking Indians almost a decade earlier than the global average,” he said, emphasising the importance of early detection, preventive screening, and awareness. He added that the initiative not only trained police personnel in BLS skills but also empowered them to take charge of their own heart health.
Dr Babu Ezhumalai, Senior Consultant, Interventional Cardiology, MGM Healthcare, highlighted a worrying trend among younger populations: 50 percent of heart attack deaths in Indian men occur before age 50, with about 25 percent happening in people under 40.
He stressed that factors like stress, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity are driving this early surge. However, he added that proper lifestyle modifications, routine screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose, and timely medical support can significantly reduce these risks, helping young people lead longer, heart-healthy lives.
The rising cholesterol and lipid imbalances are putting India’s younger populations at risk.
“Coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart, can get blocked due to cholesterol deposits, leading to heart attacks,” said Dr Hetal Mehta, DCH Paediatric Cardiologist at Apollo Cradle and Children’s Hospital, Electronic City.
Early detection is crucial, as untreated cholesterol problems over the years can result in significant heart damage.
The risk is further compounded by genetic and lifestyle factors.
“LDL cholesterol and triglycerides can increase the risk of heart disease, while HDL, the good cholesterol, offers some protection. Since many Indians have lower HDL levels, the imbalance raises the chances of early heart issues,” the doctor explained.
In some cases, cholesterol buildup can start as early as age three, and if unaddressed, can lead to premature heart attacks in adulthood.
Metro cities show unexpectedly high cholesterol abnormalities despite better awareness and healthcare access.
According to Mehta, “Urban lifestyles, including frequent eating out, sedentary routines, and limited exercise, contribute to these risks. People want to take care of their health, but lack of open spaces, time, and motivation makes it difficult.”
This illustrates a lifestyle paradox where access to healthcare does not always translate to healthier habits.
Preventive measures at the individual and family level are key to reducing risk.
“Eating whole, unprocessed foods, avoiding fried snacks and meals from outside, engaging in at least 20–30 minutes of exercise daily, managing stress, and completely avoiding smoking can significantly lower heart risks,” said the doctor.
While environmental factors like pollution cannot be controlled, small, consistent lifestyle changes can have a lasting impact on heart health.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
