High prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors among young physicians in India

To assess the health status of young Indian doctors engaged in clinical practice compared with the general population.

During a continuing medical education programme on diabetes, data from 2499 doctors from urban and semiurban areas, (mean age 39.0 + 9.0 yrs), were collected and was compared with 3278 subjects from general population (mean age 37.0 +/- 8.0 yrs). Prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidaemia, metabolic syndrome, smoking and alcohol consumption were analysed.

Doctors had significantly higher (p<0.001) prevalence of all abnormalities except diabetes, compared with the general population (diabetes 13.3 Vs 14.8%, impaired glucose tolerance 10.7 Vs 7.4%, hypertension 35.6% Vs 27.0%, obesity 55.5% Vs 35.8%, metabolic syndrome 29.0% Vs 24.8%). Undetected cases of diabetes and hypertension were similar in both groups. Use of alcohol was more common among doctors. Other illness was less common among doctors (13.2% Vs 21.8%, p < 0.001).

In India, doctors had high prevalence of metabolic disorders showing that they had not taken good care of their health. Doctors need to be motivated to practise good healthcare habits that they advocate to their clients.