A study initiated in the northeastern states by Indian scientists is examining the link between early life deprivation and non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and coronary artery ailments.

The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) is a new branch of scientific knowledge. Numerous global studies have demonstrated associations between difficulties suffered during the initial phases of somatic development and amplified risk of chronic diseases throughout life, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. “Thanks to increased salaries and better employment opportunities, all socio-economic groups in the country have experienced a rise in living standards. However, type 2 diabetes became the country’s fastest growing disease burden mainly due to sedentary lifestyle,” says Dr Rajo Singh, director of National Health Mission in Manipur.

The DOHaD study is currently going on in Assam. “The state is the ideal venue for this research as there is substantial prevalence of non-communicable diseases including type 2 diabetes among young population there. The people in the state, especially the economically disadvantaged segment, are short and thin and the life expectancy of Assamese population stands at 58.9 years. The phenotyping process of young patients is going on in the state now,” a health professional associated with the project said.

“Non-communicable diseases indeed present a serious public health challenge. In Manipur, we are running awareness campaigns in each and every district. But the drive is still in its initial phase,” Dr Singh added.

According to sources, experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are associated with the initiative. Its findings would be pertinent as India currently represents 49 per cent of the world’s diabetes burden with an estimated 72 million cases in 2017.

The study hinges on the scientific theory that health and diseases have developmental origin and intergenerational and early life deprivation combined with rapid socio-economic development largely contribute to non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, type-2 diabetes and coronary artery diseases. The outcomes of these investigations may result in a significant impact on the prevention of chronic diseases, and also on health promotion in different phases of life.

According to World Bank figures, in 1990, the country’s per capita income was Rs.24,867. This has risen 340 per cent to Rs.1,09,000 in 2016. Over the same period, the number of diabetes cases increased by more than 123 per cent. The count is expected to almost double to 134 million by 2025.