A new report by Apollo Hospitals reveals that millions of Indians are living with undiagnosed chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. The report also flags three urgent health challenges: fatty liver disease, post-menopausal health decline, and childhood obesity, emphasising the need for early personalised interventions.
“Don’t wait for symptoms, make preventive health your priority,” the report highlighted, pointing out that 26% of those screened had hypertension and 23% diabetic despite showing no symptoms.
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Based on screenings of over 2.5 million individuals, in the past five years, preventive health checks at Apollo, India’s largest private hospital chain, have jumped 150%, from 1 million in 2019 to 2.5 million in 2024.
The report also flagged the rise of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Among the 2.57 lakh people screened, 65% had fatty liver, and 85% of these had never consumed alcohol.
The report also showed that diabetes in women rises from 14% before menopause to 40% afterward. Obesity jumps from 76% to 86%, and fatty liver becomes even more common.
Obesity is also increasing among the young. The report found that 8% of primary school children and 28% of college students are overweight or obese. About 19% of college students were found to be pre-hypertensive, suggesting early risk of heart disease.
“This report shows that waiting for symptoms could be too late. Early screening, lifestyle changes, and awareness are the only way forward,” said Dr Prathap Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals.
