'Over 60 percent of urban Indian women vulnerable to heart disease'

Kolkata: Over 60 percent of women in urban India are at risk of heart diseases, said a study released on Monday.

Owing to changes in lifestyle and food habits, over 60 percent of women in the age group of 30 to 45 years are vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), said the Saffolalife study 2015, released a day ahead of the World Heart Day.

The study, conducted in top 10 Indian cities, analysed risk factors causing heart diseases in around 1,299 urban Indian females in this age group.

It said 74 percent women who are at risk of CVDs also have increased belly fat/broad waistline.

Shedding light on food habits, the survey revealed that 30 percent of women who face the risk of developing CVDs have late dinners (post 10 p.m.).

"Changing food habits and unhealthy food choices, such as increased intake of food like cheese, food rich in transfats and late dinners are leading to increased abdominal obesity and increased waist-to-hip ratio, a major risk factor for heart diseases," said Kunal Sarkar, senior consultant cardiac surgeon, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, in the study.

"In addition, smoking, low levels of physical activity, diabetes, high BP and other lifestyle factors are responsible for fat redistribution in women while accelerating their risk of CVDs," added.