Village Hotel Changi, Singapore
2nd Edition of Public Health World Conference 2026
Speakers - PHWC2025
Arita Acharjee
- Designation: Research Manager, Tricog Health India
- Country: India
- Title: Beating the Silent Epidemic: A Call for a Comprehensive CVD Strategy in India
Abstract
Background & Aims
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the world’s leading cause of death, claiming 17.9 million lives annually. India, in particular, bears a disproportionately high burden, with an age- standardised death rate of 272 per 100,000 far exceeding the global average of 235 per 100,000. This study, conducted with a sense of urgency, analyses CVD trends in India, providing insights from the current government initiatives, and identifies critical areas for improvement to reduce preventable deaths.
Methods
Our approach includes:
- Analysing real-time data from technology-driven, portable ECG platforms across India.
- Reviewing insights from the National STEMI program data.
- Evaluating the National STEMI program and National Programme for Non- Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) screening efforts.
Results
Since 2014, Tricog Health India has led the way in cardiac care through its innovative, AI- driven platform to enable early detection and management of cardiovascular disease. The platform is implemented in public healthcare initiatives across six states, 117 districts, and 2,650 facilities, covering a population of 189 million.
To date, Tricog has screened over 24 million patients for cardiac disease. Approximately 46% (9,929,602) of patients exhibit abnormalities - an alarming number of patients at risk of progressing to more serious diseases. An alarming 3.75% (808,999) of patients were diagnosed with critical cardiac conditions such as STEMI in need of urgent intervention. The
program identified an additional 1,40,000 critical patients with Ischemia, Atrial Fibrillation, Supraventricular Tachycardia, Complete Heart Block and other cardiac diseases. These patients were sent to hub hospitals through structured government-led programs involving coordinated efforts between local health authorities, Tricog, and other healthcare providers, to enable optimal treatment within the golden hour.
Conclusion & Call to Action
India urgently needs a National Cardiovascular GRID—a platform uniting medical centres, medical technology & Pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, and patient advocacy groups. This innovative platform, if implemented, could revolutionise the approach to CVD, offering hope for a future where early detection and standardised optimal medical management are the norm. Importantly, such a platform will not only save lives but also reduce the cost and burden of the delivery of healthcare across the states.
By prioritising early screening, uniform patient care standards, and innovative healthcare models, India can drastically reduce CVD mortality, improve survival rates, and alleviate the burden on its healthcare system. The time to act is now!
