Saffolalife Study 2014 Reveals That 3 in 5 Women in India are at High Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

MUMBAI, September 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

3 in 5 Women in India Develop the Risk of Heart Disease as Early as 35 Years of Age 

The general consensus is that heart disease is more prevalent in men, but Saffolalife Study 2014 has revealed an alarming fact that women in India are equally prone to cardiovascular diseases. In fact, women in India are more at risk of heart diseases today than they were 3 three years ago.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140926/10107419)

The three-year long Saffolalife study, which is India's largest study on risk factors causing heart disease, revealed that three in every five women out of the 51.7 thousand urban India female respondents are at a risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is astonishing to note that this high risk of heart disease sets in as early as 35 years of age in women. Even women as young as 35-44 years have the high risk rate of CVD. CVD risk is as high amongst housewives as it is amongst working professionals. 69 percent of housewives and 67 percent of working professionals over the age of 35 in India are at the risk of CVD.

The Saffolalife study was conducted in 12 leading metro and non-metro cities of India on 1.6 lakh urban Indians, of which 32 percent respondents were females and 92 percent of all female respondents were less than 60 years of age. The data from the study was analyzed by IMRB International.

Supporting the Saffolalife study, Dr. Pravin Chandra, Chairman and Interventional Cardiologist, Vedanta-the Medicity said, "Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in women are caused due to low HDL and high BMI. Apart from this smoking, diabetes and high BP are other reasons putting women at risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Sedentary lifestyles, stressful work conditions and compromised diet also contribute in accelerating heart disease risk. It is also alarming to note that women aged 35-44 are most at risk of cardiovascular disease, which includes both housewives and working women."

As far as risk factors for CVD are concerned, it was found that low HDL and high BMI are the two most common contributors to CVD risk, setting in as early as 35 years for women.

Saffolalife Study 2014 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnHlGuYC6i8

Key findings on risk factors -  for CVD risk setting in as early as 35 years 

1. Being overweight is not just about aesthetics, it's straining your heart too 
2. 3 in 4 women above the age of 35 who are overweight or obese are at risk of CVD
3. Not enough 'good' cholesterol a key reason for CVD risk in women  
4. 10 women above the age of 35 who are at CVD risk have low HDL
5. Smoking, diabetes and high BP are putting women at CVD risk early 
6. 90% of women smokers above the age of 35 are at the risk of CVD
7. 97% of women with diabetes above the age of 35 are at the risk of CVD
8. 95% of women above the age of 35 with high BP are at the risk of CVD
9. CVD risk in housewives and working women 
10. 69% of housewives above 35 years are at risk of heart disease
11. 67% of working women above 35 years are at risk of heart disease
12. Housewives at risk of CVD are more likely to be overweight than working women and more prone to diabetes also
13. Among women at risk, working women are less physically active than housewives.

Lifestyle factors have also contributed to the increase in CVD risk. In fact, it was seen that poor lifestyle choices at an early age (35 - 44 years) are common among women at CVD risk.

Ms. Niti Desai, celebrity nutritionist and consultant dietician says, "High saturated fat, sugar and salt intake, very low consumption of fruits and vegetables, leading to obesity, coupled with sedentary lifestyles, rising stress levels and smoking are the major contributory factors for deterioration of heart health in women."

Key findings on lifestyle factors - for CVD risk setting in as early as 35 years 

1. Women not making their nutritional needs a priority are at risk of heart disease.
   73% women above the age of 35 at CVD risk consume 2 or less servings of whole grains per day.
2. Lack of physical activity is putting you at risk of heart disease more than you think. 
   70% women above the age of 35 at CVD risk are physically active less than thrice a week.
3. Working women fare worse than housewives. 
4. 56% of working women above the age of 35 at risk of CVD eat less than 1 serving of vegetables per day as compared to 46% of housewives in the same age bracket.
5. 73% of working women above the age of 35 at risk of CVD are physically active less than thrice a week as compared to 69% of housewives in the same age group.

The most important takeaway is that the first step to a healthy heart is for women to assess their current heart condition, and hence the immediate need is to go for a heart check-up (cholesterol test). However, the Saffolalife Study disclosed a disturbing fact that out of the women who are at risk of CVD above the age of 35, only 15.4% have ever been to a cholesterol (lipid test) check-up. The number is even lower for younger women aged 35-44 at 7.8%. This means that women ignore their own health and are not aware of the extent of the risk of cardiovascular disease and are thus unable to take steps for better heart health.

We need to encourage women to go for a heart health check-up and accompany her to one. That is why this World Heart Day, Saffolalife through the "protect her initiative" is driving awareness about women's heart health and urging women to take the first step towards heart health by going for a cholesterol check-up.

We invite you to join hands with Saffolalife for the campaign "Protectherheart" to drive awareness about the message and accompany your loved ones (wife, mother, sister) to a Saffolalife cholesterol checkup.

*This data is based on the Saffolalife Survey done in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore among 624 respondents and is based on the number of responses received on the Saffolalife Heart Age finder. The Saffolalife Study is based on an analysis of responses received on Saffolalife Heart Age Finder. The study is based on an analysis of information shared on the site by people and accordingly, Saffolalife makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability of such information. The communication is intended for consumer awareness and not a substitute for medical advice.

Watch the campaign videos here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJcQXNwCrNg

Just call on 08880388803 or log on to www.saffolalife.com  to register for a complimentary cholesterol check-up at a SRL diagnostic center nearest to you and "protectherheart".

About Saffolalife

Saffolalife™ is a not-for-profit initiative started by Saffola around 14 years ago. The objective of Saffolalife is to spread awareness of the risk of heart ailments in India, and hence bring down the death rate caused by Cardio-vascular diseases. Saffolalife™ has within its fold various initiatives which include the Heart Age Finder and the Saffolalife™ Study. In the past it has carried out over 88,000 free cholesterol tests across the country. Every year, the Saffolalife Study, one of the largest studies with a sample size of over a lakh Indians, analyses and offers a deeper understanding into the reasons behind the ailing heart health of Indians.

Media Contact: Yuvraj Pawar, [email protected], 022-24337600