Heart disease Delhi's biggest killer: survey

22 June 2009

Heart disease is the biggest killer in the national capital New Delhi, followed by diabetes and cancer, according to the figures released by the Delhi government's Economic Survey.

It found that heart attacks killed approximately 15,442 people in 2007, while diabetes killed 3,920 people. Tuberculosis killed 2,597, while cancer, though perceived as deadlier, was fourth killing 2,516 people.

Out of a total 1,00,974 deaths in 2007, heart disease alone was responsible for 15 per cent of the casualties, according to the Economic Survey of Delhi-2009 released on Friday.

This is definitely a shift in the trend - respiratory diseases had caused the most deaths in 2006, as many as 9,164. It no longer figures in the list, indicating that the switch to CNG and other efforts of the Delhi government to check air pollution seem to have paid off.

The survey also shows that the capital is a study in contrast: over 600 people died of anaemia, while uncontrolled eating contributes to the death of others.

The average number of deaths per day in Delhi has increased to 277 in 2007 as against 271 in 2006. In 2006, 98,908 deaths were reported from the city, the report said.