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IJE Advance Access published online on September 23, 2009
International Journal of Epidemiology, doi:10.1093/ije/dyp295
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Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association © The Author 2009; all rights reserved.

Commentary: Societal influences on cardiovascular disease: time to assess and act

Dorairaj Prabhakaran1,* and Ambuj Roy2

1 Center for Chronic Disease Control and Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India.
2 Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

* Corresponding author. Center for Chronic Disease Control, C1/52, SDA, New Delhi 110016, India. E-mail: dprabhakaran@ccdcindia.org

Accepted 30 July 2009

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.1 The burden of this epidemic is likely to worsen as developing countries with large populations witness rapid economic, social and cultural transition.2 Such changes, while leading to prosperity and increased longevity of their populations, also produce rapid epidemiological transition resulting in an increased non-communicable disease burden. Economic development, urbanization and globalization result in dramatic changes in dietary practices, inadequate physical activity, increased tobacco consumption and environmental pollution. Cheaper availability of high-fat foods and diminishing use of traditional foods result in high energy intake, whereas mechanization results in reduced physical activity and lower energy expenditure. These result in energy surplus and consequent overweight and obesity. Additionally, migration, loss of a social support system and break down of family networks lead to increased stress. All these fuel the CVD epidemic and hence CVDs are often termed lifestyle diseases.

We . . . [Full Text of this Article]


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