Dyslipidemia, or high cholesterol, has no symptoms but is a silent killer in India and a major risk factor for heart disease, health experts said on Sunday.
India’s first guidelines on dyslipidemia management, released by the Cardiology Society of India (CSI) earlier this month, recommend early cholesterol testing at the age of 18 for early identification of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
The latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals that India has seen a staggering 12.5 per cent rise in heart attack cases in 2022 alone.
According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Report 2023, India’s age-standardised CVD mortality rate is 272 per 100,000 population, which is higher than the global average of 235 per 100,000 population, indicating a high burden of CVD in the country.
“High blood pressure and diabetes have symptoms, but dyslipidemia has no symptoms and is truly a silent killer,” Dr JPS Sawhney, head of cardiology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, told IANS.
“Hence, it is recommended that children have their first lipid profile tested at the age of 18, when they start university,” Dr Sawhney said, adding, “Dyslipidemia is the strongest risk factor for heart disease.”
“Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol/non-high-density lipoprotein C (essentially the bad cholesterol) gets into the artery walls and forms plaque (blockages) inside the arteries,” the experts explained.
Dr Sawhney noted that risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and stress push bad cholesterol further into the artery walls.
“Since there is no symptomatic test for high cholesterol, lipid profile (non-fasting) is the only way to detect its presence. The lipid profile test should be repeated four weeks after the initiation of treatment to ascertain whether the patient has achieved the target LDL-C value as per their risk,” said the noted cardiologist.
He also suggested testing blood pressure and blood sugar levels along with cholesterol, which could allow for early detection and allow for early lifestyle intervention or medication to prevent a fatal heart attack later.
“The new lipid guidelines recommend early cholesterol testing to identify those at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) early in life. Early detection allows for timely intervention to reduce the risk. Prevention is paramount. Risk factors need to be addressed before symptoms appear,” Dr Bhagirath Raghuraman, director, heart transplant, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru, told IANS.
Preventing heart disease through early intervention can also reduce the overall healthcare burden by reducing the need for costly treatments and hospitalizations associated with advanced CVD, the doctors said.
In addition to early testing, experts called for other public health measures to curb the rise in heart disease in the country.
“Public health campaigns to educate people about healthy diet, regular exercise and avoiding smoking are essential. Regular screening programmes can be conducted in schools, workplaces and communities to identify at-risk individuals and initiate necessary interventions. Educating people about new treatments and preventive measures can support heart health,” Dr Raghuraman said.
