Hypertension is rising sharply among youth—26% of those under 45 were diagnosed in 2024. Pre-hypertension affected 9% of high schoolers and 19% of college students, driven by stress and poor lifestyle
Published May 20, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated May 20, 2025 | 9:04 AM
Synopsis: India’s healthcare system is under growing strain as lifestyle diseases surge, particularly in urban areas. Apollo Hospitals’ Health of the Nation 2025 report highlights alarming hypertension rates in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and widespread lifestyle-related conditions in cities like Hyderabad, Delhi, and Chennai. Sedentary habits, chronic stress, and poor preventive care are driving a nationwide rise in non-communicable diseases
India’s healthcare system is facing escalating pressure, especially in urban centres, as new findings reveal an alarming rise in lifestyle-related diseases. Apollo Hospitals’ Health of the Nation 2025 report, points to a worsening crisis driven by sedentary routines, chronic stress, and inadequate preventive care.
In Telangana, 23 percent of those screened have hypertension, with an additional 55 percent classified as pre-hypertensive. Similarly, in Andhra Pradesh, 26 percent are hypertensive and 52 percent pre-hypertensive, indicating a widespread early risk of cardiovascular disease across both states.
Meanwhile, cities like Hyderabad (68 percent ), Delhi (65 percent ), and Chennai (63 percent) have reported the highest prevalence of lifestyle-related health conditions, underscoring the consequences of modern urban living. These trends have significantly contributed to the surge in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), particularly hypertension, which is now affecting nearly 30 percent of the country’s adult population.
The report highlights that around 300 million Indians are currently living with hypertension, making it a leading contributor to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and premature mortality. Worryingly, nearly half remain unaware of their condition, delaying timely intervention.
Of particular concern is the sharp increase in hypertension among younger demographics. In 2024, 26 percent of individuals under 45 were diagnosed with high blood pressure. Among high school students, 9 percent were found to be pre-hypertensive, rising to 19 percent in college-aged youth—suggesting early onset linked to stress, diet, and screen-heavy lifestyles.
Women are also increasingly affected. Data shows that 40 percent of women aged 40–55 now live with hypertension. Additionally, a staggering 74 percent of individuals with high blood pressure also had fatty liver disease, pointing to interconnected metabolic risks.
Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Founder and Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, emphasised the importance of early action.
“India has overcome many public health crises, and each success was driven by awareness and collective effort,” he said. “Through initiatives like Apollo ProHealth, we are transforming over 25 million screenings into powerful action—enhancing digital hypertension monitoring, strengthening policy advocacy, and making routine screenings a national priority.”
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals, urged for a paradigm shift in how hypertension is viewed.
“Hypertension is no longer limited to age or genetics—it’s become a silent epidemic among young, urban Indians,” she said. “Nearly 30 percent of the urban population under 40 is already affected by hypertension or pre-hypertension. We must move beyond isolated metrics and understand the full cardiovascular risk profile of individuals.”
The Apollo report calls for embracing a tech-enabled, preventive approach to health. With 80 percent of heart attacks and strokes attributed to hypertension being preventable through lifestyle changes—such as reducing salt intake, increasing physical activity, and managing stress—individual and community-based interventions are critical.
Advances in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and telemedicine are poised to transform hypertension detection and management. Apollo advocates for widespread adoption of these tools to enable early risk assessment and ongoing care.
Techniques like Coronary Calcium Scoring and other advanced imaging methods can help detect asymptomatic early-stage heart disease. According to the report, implementing guideline-based interventions for people with early signs of atherosclerosis can reduce cardiovascular events by up to 50 percent.
As hypertension rises across demographic groups, Apollo Hospitals is calling for a nationwide rethink of cardiovascular prevention strategies. Screening from the age of 30—especially for those with a family history of heart disease—should become standard.
“1 in 2 healthy Indians show early signs of heart disease,” the report warns. “We must challenge the definition of ‘normal’ and act before symptoms appear.”
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
