Choropleth Mapping of Lifestyle Diseases in India
Prevalence and Treatment-Seeking Patterns Using NHFS-5 Data
Abstract
Lifestyle diseases such as asthma, thyroid diseases, heart diseases, cancer, and kidney diseases are caused due to poor diet, stress, physical inactivity, and environmental factors. These non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant public health challenge as they account for over 60% of all deaths in India. This study aims to geographically map the prevalence and treatment-seeking behaviour related to major lifestyle diseases in Indian states using data from NFHS-5, which will help healthcare stakeholders to obtain actionable insights for resource allocation and disease management. Raw data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21) were analysed to extract state-wise and district-wise prevalence of asthma, thyroid disorders, heart disease, cancer, and kidney disease. Variables studied also include the percentage of individuals seeking treatment post-diagnosis. Choropleth maps were created to visualize geographic concentration patterns and regional disparities across the country. The analysis reveals significant geographical disparities in the prevalence of NCDs across India. Mizoram consistently emerges as a multi-disease hotspot, ranking among the top five most affected states across all diseases. Kerala is particularly notable for being the most plagued state for both asthma and thyroid disorders. Regional clustering is also observed, with Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir leading the nation in prevalence for heart disease and cancer. Treatment-seeking behaviour is inconsistent: while some high-burden states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have robust healthcare engagement, others like Mizoram and Ladakh lag significantly despite severe disease prevalence. This study identifies high burden and low treatment-seeking areas for key lifestyle diseases. Geographically tailored and targeted interventions by policymakers, healthcare companies, and social impact startups could be developed using the study, which are essential for ensuring equitable healthcare and mitigating the growing burden of non-communicable diseases across India.
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