A recent article by Singla et al.[1] focused on the young population for assessing risk factors and outcomes. Although their efforts are laudable, a brief mention of the concerned national program would have helped in understanding the existing gaps and recommended ways forward accordingly.
The National Program for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS) has been implemented since 2010, with a focus on major risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension.[2] The efforts have recently been boosted by the initiation of a community-based screening program for people above 30 years of age.[3] Under the National Health Mission, it is a significant achievement to bring preventive care for non-communicable diseases (NCD) through 76000 Health and Wellness Centers across the country. Although tertiary centers and at times secondary centers are being equipped with thrombolytics under free drugs and diagnostic schemes, a “hub and spoke” model is being tested at some states for the best utilization of the “golden hour”. As the present study was conducted a decade earlier (2010–2013) when NPCDCS was in infancy, it would be a matter of great interest if recent developments in the health care delivery system have brought any change in the observations noted in the study.
As stroke is responsible for 7.3% of deaths in India,[4] we need to think about maximum lives that could be saved with limited resources.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
REFERENCES
- 1.Singla M, Singh G, Kaur P, Pandian JD. Epidemiology of young stroke in the Ludhiana population-based stroke registry. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2021;25:114–9. doi: 10.4103/aian.aian_711_21. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Government of India. National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke. Operational guidelines (revised 2013-17) 2013. [[Last accessed on 2022 Mar 04]]. Available from: https://main.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Operational%20Guidelines%20of%20NPCDCS%20%28Revised%20-%202013-17%29_1.pdf .
- 3.Government of India. National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke. Training module for medical officers for prevention, control and population level screening of hypertension, diabetes and common cancers (oral, breast, and cervical) 2017. [[Last accessed on 2022 Mar 04]]. Available from: https://main.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Training%20Module%20for%20Medical%20Officers%20for%20Prevention%2C%20Control%20and%20Population%20Level%20Screening%20of%20NCDs_1.pdf .
- 4.Indian Council of Medical Research, Public Health Foundation of India, and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. India: Health of the Nation's States-the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative. New Delhi, India: ICMR, PHFI, and IHME; 2017. [Google Scholar]