A geospatial analysis of noncommunicable disease (NCD) burden in Indian agro-climatic and political regions

Aim: To examine the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Indian agro-climatic and political regions. Subjects and methods: Data from two rounds of National Sample Survey (NSS) 68th (2011–12) and 71st (2014) was used to estimate the subnational spatial heterogeneity of NCD burden across 87 agro-climatic and political regions in India. Quantile maps, local Moran’s I, LISA cluster and significance maps were generated. Results: Results show a high spatial heterogeneity in disease burden across the agro-climatic regions. Moran’s I scatterplot depict a significantly high level of regional dependence (Moran’s I = 0.558) of NCDs with larger concentration of disease in southern states like Kerala (northern and southern), Tamil Nadu (inland, coastal, and northern-coastal), Karnataka (inland, coastal and Ghats) and Pondicherry. The proportion of the elderly population, those belonging to urban areas, widowed/divorced/separated population, high per capita alcohol and tobacco consumption were more likely to affect the prevalence of NCDs. Conclusion: Findings call for an immediate programmatic attention at the subnational level due to significantly high regional dependence of NCDs. Policies and programme should focus on strengthening the implementation of existing policies with a special focus on geriatric population to combat the disease burden.