1. This study assessed the health status of young doctors in India compared to the general population by examining prevalence of metabolic disorders like diabetes and hypertension. 2. The study found that young Indian physicians had significantly higher rates of hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, abdominal adiposity, and dyslipidemia than the general population, despite having greater awareness of lifestyle diseases. 3. While the prevalence of diabetes was similar between the two groups, doctors had a higher prevalence of other cardiometabolic risk factors. The results show that doctors need to better practice the healthy behaviors they recommend to patients.

1. By:
Indramani Prakash(JR2)
Published in Journal of the Association of Physicians of India .2008;56:17-19

2. Prof.N.C Dwivedi(DM NEUROLOGY)

3. BACKGROUND
 Practising physicians involved in clinical care are
an important segment of public health care. They
have good access to information on disease frequency
and determinants. Therefore, knowledge and awareness
generally expected to be high among clinicians. This in turn
could influence the prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as
diabetes and hypertension among them. There is paucity of
data on the lifestyle-associated disorders among physicians.

4. .
There is some data from Australia, News
Zealand,UnitedKingdom and United States of
America. There is sparse data from developing
countries. Hence this study was done to assess the
health status of doctors from urban and semiurban
areas .In urban and semiurban India, prevalence of
metabolic disorders like diabetes and dyslipidaemia is
high and continue to increase. Awareness on healthy
habits, need for early detection and treatment of
diseases are low in the general population and is
largely dependent on the levelof education in India.

5. Prevalence of smoking (only in men)
was similar in both groups (10.7% in
doctors and 10.3% in general
population, but use of alcohol was
more common among the doctors.

8. Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed if any three or
more following were present
1.hyperglycaemia, (fasting glucose > 110 mg/dl or
diabetes)
2.hypertension
3.waist circumference > 90cms for men and >
85cms for women,
4.Components of dyslipidaemia, except low HDL were
more common among the doctors.

15. Aim
To assess the health ststus of young doctors engaged in
clinical practice compared with the general population

16. Materials and Methods
The study was done in 2499 practising physicians (Men
Women, 1878 : 621) aged 25 to 55 years representative of
physician from urban and semiurban areas who
participated in a continuing medical education
programme conducted by us between 2004 to 2006.
They had a minimum of 5 years clinical
experience;52% were practising in rural areas and
remaining in towns of seven states of India
(Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka, AndhraPradesh,
Gujarat, Orissa and New Delhi) spreading in all
regions of the country.

17. . The control population was 3278
subjects (men : women 1367 : 1911) of similar age group
and socioeconomic status chosen from the population
screened for diabetes in a city and town in Tamilnadu in
2006. The screening procedures were similar in both
study groups. Demography, medical history,smoking and
alcohol habits, family history of diabetes and
family history of cardiovascular diseases were recorded.

18. Method:
 1-Standard oral glucose tolerance test was done for
non diabetic subjects.
2-Fasting and 2h post prandial blood glucose was
done for known cases of diabetes.
3-History ofhypertension and treatment details were
noted.( Values > 130/>85 mmHg was considered to be
Abnormal)
4-Fasting lipid profile
5-Body mass index(more than 25 consider to be
abnormal)
6-Waist circumference(more than 90 cms in men and
more than 85 cms in female consider to be abnormal)

19. Discussion :
Illness among doctors include all the expected categories
for the general population at large such as cardiovascular
diseases, respiratory disorders, musculoskeletal disorders,
cancer and psychiatric illness.
Although awareness of lifestyle diseases was high among
doctors, the study showed that young Indian physicians had
significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, impaired
glucose tolerance, abdominal adiposity and dyslipidemia.
The prevalence of diabetes among doctors was similar to
that in the general population.

20. Result:
 1-Family history of diabetes and cardiovascular
diseases were significantly higher among doctors.
Doctors had higher mean BMI and upper body
adiposity and higher mean diastolic blood
pressure.Total cholesterol and LDL values were higher,
but they had better mean HDL values.

21. 2-Prevalence of diabetes was similar in both
groups, but IGT was more prevalent among the
doctors. Among the doctors 68.4% and among the
general populations 60.0% of diabetic cases were
known cases. Doctors had a significantly higher
prevalence of hypertension and 71% were newly
diagnosed cases. Among the general population,
72% of hypertensives were newly diagnosed.
Overweight and upper body adiposity indicated by
high waist circumference were more among the
doctors.

22. Results of our study show that young
Indian physicians have high rates of
cardiometabolic risk factors and
therefore do need more motivation to
follow good health care practices
which they advocate to their clients…

23. Conclusion:
In India, doctors had high prevalence of metabolic
disorders showing that they had not taken good care
of their health. Doctors need to be motivated to
practise good healthcare habits that they advocate to
their clients.

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