Parliament Question: Medical Certification of Cause of Deaths

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3690 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11TH AUGUST, 2026/ SHRAVANA 20, 1948 (SAKA) MEDICAL CERTIFICATION OF CAUSE OF DEATHS

3690. SHRI APPALANAIDU KALISETTI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the number of deaths reported due to cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac events as per the Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) and details of data during the last ten years, year-wise and State/UT-wise;

(b) gender and age groups, including deaths below 40 years of age, or as per age categories;

(c) whether deaths due to cardiac arrest among younger age groups (below 40 years) have shown an increasing trend during the said period; and

(d) if so, the details thereof, the factors identified by the Government contributing to early cardiac deaths, and the preventive, screening, and awareness measures being taken to address the same? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) & (b) As per the Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) Reports compiled by the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI), data on causes of death are classified in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Separate information on "cardiac arrest" is not compiled as a standalone cause of death in the published MCCD reports. However, deaths due to diseases of the circulatory system,-2- L.S.US.Q.NO. 3690 FOR 11.08.2026 including various forms of heart diseases, are compiled and published. The year-wise and State/UT-wise data on medically certified deaths due to diseases of the circulatory system during the last ten years are available in MCCD Reports. Further, gender and age groups-wise by major cause group including diseases of the circulatory system is also part of annual MCCD Reports. The Annual MCCD Reports are available at the following link:

https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/MCCDREP

(c) & (d) Health is a State subject. The data regarding cases of heart attack is not maintained centrally. Indian Council of Medical Research

(ICMR) has informed that in order to understand the reasons for heart attack, ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE) conducted a multi- centric matched case-control study in 25 hospitals across India. Cases were patients aged 18-45 years admitted in the study hospitals with newly diagnosed Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) between October 2021 and January 2023. Controls were patients aged 18-45 years admitted in the same hospital for other causes, matched for time of hospitalization. Information was collected regarding the various risk factors. The study observed that hospitalization with AMI was associated with presence of any known comorbidity, family history of thrombotic events and ever been smoker.-3- L.S.US.Q.NO. 3690 FOR 11.08.2026 Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non- Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), 770 District NCD Clinics, 6410 Community Health Center NCD Clinics and 233 Cardiac Care Units have been set up. Further, a population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common NCDs including hypertension has been rolled out in the country under National Health Mission (NHM) as a part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care. Under the initiative, persons more than 30 years of age are targeted for their screening.

To manage acute cardiac events a hub-and-spoke model has been implemented. District hospitals and Community Health Centers (spokes) are equipped to provide initial thrombolysis and stabilization, while tertiary hospitals and medical colleges (hubs) offer advanced interventions.

Ambulance services, telemedicine platforms and streamlined referral pathways further enhance access, especially in rural areas.

Government of India provides financial support under NHM for awareness generation activities for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular diseases to be undertaken by the States and Union Territories. The preventive aspect is strengthened under Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Ayushman Arogya Mandir, by promotion of-4- L.S.US.Q.NO. 3690 FOR 11.08.2026 wellness activities and targeted communication at the community level.

Furthermore, healthy eating is also promoted through Food Safety & Standards Authority of India. Fit India movement is implemented by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and various Yoga related activities are carried out by Ministry of AYUSH.

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