Physical inactivity behind 13 per cent of heart failure cases among diabetics in India: Study

Background

A recent global study, published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, highlights a significant link between physical inactivity and various health complications among individuals with diabetes, particularly in India. The study emphasizes that a substantial portion of these complications could be prevented through increased physical activity. This issue is critical for India, which, according to a 2024 study published in The Lancet journal, is home to more than one-fourth of the world's diabetics.

Key Points

• Impact in India:

  • 13 per cent of heart failure cases among people with diabetes in India are linked to physical inactivity.
  • 9.6 per cent of coronary heart disease cases among diabetics in India are attributed to lack of physical activity.
  • 9.4 per cent of cardiovascular complication cases among diabetics in India are linked to physical inactivity.

• Global Impact:

  • Globally, one in ten cases of macrovascular complications (affecting large blood vessels) and retinopathy (eye damage) in people with diabetes are due to physical inactivity.
  • Physical inactivity accounts for more than 10 per cent of strokes, 9.7 per cent of diabetic retinopathy, 7.3 per cent of heart failure, and around five to seven per cent of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease cases globally among people with diabetes.

• Recommendations and Methodology:

  • The World Health Organization (WHO), a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health, recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
  • The researchers, led by Jayne Feter from Brazil's Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, analyzed data from more than 2.3 million adults with diabetes across various world regions, including South Asia.
  • The analysis combined population-based cohort studies and national surveys with risk estimates from large international meta-analyses (statistical method combining results from multiple studies) and global physical activity surveillance systems.

• Social Inequities:

  • The study found that women and people with lower education levels consistently experienced a higher proportion of complications attributable to physical inactivity. This highlights deep social inequities in health outcomes.

• Policy Implications:

  • Diabetes complications arise from long-term high blood sugar, damaging blood vessels and nerves. Treating these complications consumes a growing share of health budgets, especially in regions with already strained health systems.
  • The study reframes physical activity as a core component of diabetes complication prevention, which can reduce hospitalizations, disability, and healthcare costs, while improving quality of life.
  • Co-author Natan Feter from the University of Southern California emphasized that integrating physical activity promotion into routine diabetes care and national Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) strategies (chronic diseases not transmitted from person to person, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases) is crucial.
  • Policies must be tailored to local realities and explicitly address social and gender inequalities.

(Note: This news article was published on February 18, 2026.)

Exam Relevance

This topic is highly relevant for the UPSC Civil Services Exam, particularly for:

• GS Paper 2: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations

  • Social Justice (Health): Directly addresses health disparities, access to healthcare, and the burden of NCDs on vulnerable populations (women, lower education levels).
  • Government Policies & Interventions: Relevance to national health policies, NCD control programs, and initiatives like the Fit India Movement or Ayushman Bharat.
  • International Bodies: Role of WHO in setting health guidelines and global health initiatives.

• GS Paper 1: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

  • Social Issues: Discusses lifestyle diseases, health inequities, and the socio-economic determinants of health in India.

• GS Paper 3: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

  • Indian Economy (Health Sector): The economic burden of treating diabetes complications on healthcare budgets and the potential for cost savings through preventive measures.

Likely Question Angles:

1. Policy Analysis: "Critically analyze the effectiveness of government initiatives in India to combat Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, with a special focus on promoting physical activity. What more needs to be done?"
2. Social Justice: "Discuss how social inequities, particularly concerning gender and education, exacerbate the burden of diabetes complications in India. Suggest measures to address these disparities."
3. Health Infrastructure: "The rising incidence of diabetes and its complications poses a significant challenge to India's healthcare infrastructure. Examine the economic and social implications, and propose sustainable solutions."
4. Preventive Healthcare: "Highlight the importance of preventive healthcare strategies, such as promoting physical activity, in managing the growing burden of diabetes in India. What role can community-level interventions play?"
5. International Cooperation: "How do global health recommendations, such as those by the WHO, influence national NCD strategies in developing countries like India? Discuss the challenges in their implementation."