India shoulders a staggering 60% of global heart disease cases, despite comprising less than 20% of the world’s population, according to public health statistics. Alarmingly, heart disease is striking younger people, with high obesity and hypertension rates making them vulnerable. In India, 50% of all heart attacks in men happen before the age of 50, and 25% before 40. Women, too, face substantial heart disease-related mortality rates.
Several lifestyle factors contribute to heart conditions in young Indians, including poor habits, physical inactivity, obesity, and smoking. Alongside diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, elevated blood homocysteine levels constitute another independent risk factor for heart disease. Dr. Sameer Gupta, an Interventional Cardiologist and Head of Cardiology for the Metro Group of Hospitals, discusses the value of homocysteine testing for heart disease risk evaluation.
A recent Tata 1mg Labs study analyzed data from 4609 homocysteine tests conducted in Mumbai over two years. The results revealed that 87.57% of those tested had above-normal homocysteine levels, predisposing them to heart ailments like blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. Interestingly, women displayed better results than men, with only 36.84% having elevated homocysteine levels, compared to 62.93% of men.
Dr. Gupta underscores the importance of evaluating homocysteine levels in conjunction with other risk factors and patient information. While high homocysteine levels signal increased risk, there is no conclusive evidence that reducing homocysteine levels will lower heart disease risk. Nevertheless, regular heart health check-ups and early detection of heart conditions are essential for timely intervention and improved health outcomes.
