Results from nationwide screening show alarming NCD trends

Jigmi Wangdi

A nationwide health screening conducted by the Ministry of Health (MoH) has unveiled an alarming picture of the country’s battle against non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The findings, gathered over a three-week period between November and December last year, reveal that significant segments of Bhutan’s population face heightened risks of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and obesity.

According to the screening summary, 216,096 individuals aged 18 and older were tested for key health indicators such as blood pressure, blood glucose, and body mass index (BMI). Of this group, 51,399 were found to have hypertension and 23,340 had elevated blood sugar levels.

However, these numbers are preliminary, as those flagged during the screening were referred to hospitals for confirmatory diagnosis.

The findings align with data from the National Health Survey (NHS) 2023, which reported a rise in high blood pressure from 28 percent in 2019 to 30.3 percent in 2023. High cholesterol levels have also nearly doubled during this period, jumping from 11 percent to 20.9 percent.

The screening also revealed that 90,115 people in Bhutan are living with obesity—a concerning trend given its links to other NCDs.

The primary risk factors of NCDs identified are tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets.

Heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung conditions are the four major  NCDs in the country today.

District-specific data highlight Samtse with the highest prevalence of NCD risk factors. The district recorded 6,481 cases of hypertension, 3,272 cases of elevated blood sugar, and a staggering 9,681 cases of obesity.

Punakha, meanwhile, reported the highest number of individuals diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases—338 cases—nearly three times more than most other districts.

Health Minister Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk previously said that as Bhutan becomes more developed, its population has grown increasingly sedentary. Easy access to transportation has reduced physical activity, while dietary habits have shifted towards unhealthy options.

“People have become immobile, and there is little thought about what they eat daily,” the minister said.

Key risk factors identified include tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets. Together, these behaviours contribute to the growing prevalence of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung conditions—the four primary NCD categories.

The MoH’s screening programme aimed not only to identify at-risk individuals but also to raise public awareness about NCDs and their prevention. Early detection, health officials emphasised, is critical to reducing mortality rates associated with these diseases.

“Our health facilities will now provide opportunistic NCD screenings for adults visiting hospitals for any illness,” a health official said. “We are also planning to enhance awareness programmes about NCD risk factors for the general population.”

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