• Renuka Saha, Anita Nath, Nandini Sharma, S K Badhan, and G K Ingle.
• Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110002, India.
• Natl Med J India. 2007 May 1;20(3):125-7.

BackgroundThe past decade has seen a decline in the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) contributed by communicable diseases while lifestyle changes and rapid urbanization have led to an increase in DALYs contributed by non-communicable diseases. We studied the causes of death in a low socioeconomic area over 11 years to help identify changes in the pattern of disease.MethodsWe did this study in Gokulpuri, a resettlement colony in East Delhi. All deaths occurring from 1994 to 2004 were analysed using a verbal autopsy questionnaire completed by trained health workers during their home visits in the area.ResultsA total of 515 deaths occurred during the period; 340 in men (66%) and 175 in women (34%). The six commonest causes of death were tuberculosis (24.8%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (11.6%), pneumonia (8.7%), accidents and poisoning (8.6 %), coronary heart disease (8.2%) and cancer (4.6%). The age-specific mortality rate was highest among people > 45 years of age. The cause-specific mortality rate due to communicable diseases showed a decline while that due to non-communicable diseases showed a rising trend in all age groups.ConclusionOur study shows the coexistence of communicable and non-communicable diseases in a low socioeconomic area with a rising trend in non-communicable diseases. Surveillance for risk factors of non-communicable diseases should be done even in predominantly low socioeconomic areas. The coexistence of communicable and non-communicable diseases and the increase in non-communicable diseases among the economically deprived sections of our society suggest the need to re-prioritize components of healthcare among these sections.

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