Age at Onset and Risk in Competing scenario of Major Chronic Diseases in India

This study investigates the age at onset and competing risk of major chronic diseases in India. Diseases considered are CVD, asthma, disorder of joints and bones, mental illness, diabetes and cancer. 60th round of NSSO data is used which is a multi-stage cluster sample survey covering 73868 nationally representative households. Marginal risk is estimated in terms of cumulative incidence function for a disease assuming rest five diseases as competing risk. A popular model for the cumulative incidence given by Fine & Gray is used which is the proportional hazards model for the subdistribution of a competing risk. This study reveals that the prevalence of CVD is highest among rest chronic diseases. The risk of major chronic diseases starts in the age around 40’s. For CVD and disorder of joints and bones females are more vulnerable. CVD and diabetes onset is earlier in richer and highly educated people in India.