Which noncommunicable disease (NCD) is responsible for the highest number of deaths in India, according to th… - NORCERT 8 Mains-2025

NORCERT 8 Mains-2025

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NORCERT 8 Mains-2025

Explanation

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality among all noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in India.
Data from sources like the WHO and national health studies consistently show that CVDs, which include heart attacks and strokes, account for the largest proportion of NCD-related deaths.
NCDs are responsible for approximately 68% of all deaths in India, and CVDs are the biggest contributor to this statistic.
The order of mortality from the four major NCDs in India is generally: 1) Cardiovascular diseases, 2) Cancers, 3) Chronic respiratory diseases, and 4) Diabetes.

Option A: While chronic respiratory diseases, like COPD, are a significant cause of mortality in India (often ranked second or third among NCDs), they are responsible for fewer deaths than the total number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases.
Option C: Diabetes is a major and growing health problem in India and a significant risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. However, it directly accounts for a lower number of deaths compared to CVDs, cancer, and respiratory diseases.
Option D: Cancers are the second leading cause of NCD deaths in India. While the mortality burden is very high, it is still lower than the total mortality from cardiovascular diseases.

Visual 1: Pie Chart - A chart showing the proportional mortality in India, breaking down deaths by major NCD categories (CVDs, Cancers, Respiratory Diseases, Diabetes) to visually represent the dominance of CVDs.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in India helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses are at the forefront of combating the CVD epidemic. Their roles include primary prevention (health education on diet, exercise, tobacco cessation), secondary prevention (screening for hypertension, diabetes), and tertiary prevention (managing patients with established heart disease).
Understanding that CVD is the top killer helps nurses prioritize patient education and screening efforts during routine check-ups and community health programs.
What if? If the question asked for the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost to NCDs, the answer would still be cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the immense impact of these conditions on both mortality and long-term disability.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it's asking for the disease with the highest number of deaths from a specific category (NCDs) in a specific location (India).
This is a factual recall question based on public health data, often from sources like the WHO or national health surveys.
Recall or deduce the relative burden of the major NCDs. Even without knowing the exact numbers, it is a key public health fact that heart-related diseases are the top killer both globally and in India.
Evaluate the options. All are major NCDs, but cardiovascular diseases (a broad category including heart attacks and strokes) have the highest mortality rate, making it the most likely correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in India
Stem keywords: noncommunicable disease, NCD, highest number of deaths, India, WHO
Lead-in keywords: Which
Negative lead-in flag: false

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