A survey report released by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), has claimed that Odisha has a 27.19% prevalence of key Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) which is higher than the national average of 11.63%.
According to the report, the state has a higher prevalence of digestive diseases, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and neurological disorders as compared to the National Average Prevalence Rate of these diseases.
Delving on the risk factors associated with NCDs, the report observed that people in the state have relatively higher exposure to air pollution as compared to the national average.
As per the report, 83% of respondents have higher exposure to air pollution in comparison to the national average of 77%.
The study said, 91.6% of the respondents from Odisha consume non-vegetarian food as compared to the national average of 65.6%.
The study also found that milk and fruits consumption is lower while junk food consumption is marginally higher in Odisha than the national average.
These factors have implications on the occurrence of NCDs like digestive diseases, hypertension, and diabetes.
Fifty-eight per cent of people in Odisha never undertake health check-ups as compared to the national average of 47 per cent.
The state also has a higher population of people with a monthly income of less than Rs. 10,000 at 68% in comparison to the national average of 56%, it stated.
It noted that 85% of people from the state incur out-of-pocket expenditure for NCD treatment in comparison to the national average of 81%.
The report noted a higher level of incidence of intoxication in the state compared to the national average due to chewing tobacco.
Dr. Sushant Kumar Sethi, Senior Consultant & Head Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist Apollo Hospital, Sainik School Road, Bhubaneswar,
Dr. Bibekananda Panda, Senior Consultant Nephrologist Apollo Hospitals, Bhubaneswar, Dr. Ritesh Agrawala, Consultant Endocrinologist AMRI Hospital and Narayani Fetal Medicine Centre (NFMC), Bhubaneswar, Dr. S. C. Panigrahi, Associate Professor Department of Gastroenterology KIMS, Bhubaneswar, Dr. Anupam Jena, Consultant, Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist, KIMS, Bhubaneswar, Dr. Rajesh Kesari, Founder and Director, Total Care Control, New Delhi and several others participated in the webinar.