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14th November 2024 (10 Topics)

The CKM Syndrome as the price of modernity

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Context

Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a growing public health crisis, exacerbated by lifestyle changes and globalization, with Tamil Nadu as a focal point in highlighting the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, contributing to premature deaths and a strain on health resources. This issue is being underscored in light of World Diabetes Day on November 14.

Health Burden & Statistics 

  • Rising Prevalence of NCDs: In Tamil Nadu, NCDs now account for 69% of premature deaths and 68% of years lost to disability, with 28.5% of the population overweight and 11.4% obese, reflecting a larger national trend.
  • Diabetes & Hypertension Crisis: The state’s 2020 STEPS survey reveals alarming levels of diabetes (17.6%) and hypertension (33.9%), with poor glycemic control and management, particularly among poorer communities.
  • Economic Impact: The rising burden of NCDs, especially CKM-related conditions like coronary angioplasty and dialysis, strains Tamil Nadu’s health budget, with nearly Rs 1,200 crore spent annually on insurance premiums under CMCHIS.

Challenges in Healthcare Management 

  • Fragmented Care: Current healthcare models treat diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease separately, leading to fragmented care, multiple specialist visits, and inefficiencies.
  • Integrated Care Model: There is a push for integrated clinics where multidisciplinary teams of specialists manage CKM as a unified condition, optimizing care and reducing patient burden.
  • Public Health Initiatives: Tamil Nadu has implemented schemes like Muthu Lakshmi Reddy for pregnant women and school-based weight screenings, which aim to tackle CKM risk factors early in life.

Globalization and Lifestyle Impact

  • Lifestyle Changes: Globalization has fostered workaholism, long hours, and unhealthy eating habits, contributing to CKM syndrome by disrupting hormone regulation and metabolism.
  • Role of Work Hours: There is increasing recognition that long working hours and frequent night shifts exacerbate health risks, leading to poor metabolic health and increased obesity.
  • Health Policy Recommendations: Experts argue for regulating work hours and improving lifestyle, including healthier food options like millets and low-sodium salt, as preventive measures to curb the CKM epidemic.
Practice Question

Q. Discuss the rising burden of Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic (CKM) syndrome in India. Analyze the public health, economic, and policy challenges posed by this emerging health crisis, particularly in the context of Tamil Nadu.

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