Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 12: More than 13 per cent of heart failure cases among people living with diabetes in India may be linked to physical inactivity, according to a global study published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science.
The findings also indicate that 9.6 per cent of coronary heart disease cases and 9.4 per cent of cardiovascular complications among diabetics in India can be attributed to lack of physical activity. Globally, researchers found that one in ten cases of macrovascular (large blood vessel) complications and diabetic retinopathy are associated with physical inactivity.
“Diabetes complications are often seen as inevitable consequences of the disease. Our findings challenge this idea by showing that a meaningful proportion of these complications could be prevented through achievable increases in physical activity among people living with diabetes,” said lead author Jayne Feter from the School of Medicine at Brazil’s Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The study analysed data from over 2.3 million adults with diabetes across various world regions, including South Asia.
The researchers found that physical inactivity accounted for more than 10 per cent of strokes, 9.7 per cent of diabetic retinopathy, 7.3 per cent of heart failure, and approximately five to seven per cent of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease cases among diabetics worldwide.
The study also highlighted social disparities, noting that women and individuals with lower education levels experienced a higher proportion of complications attributable to physical inactivity.
India is home to more than one-fourth of the world’s diabetic population, according to a 2024 study published in The Lancet. Long-term high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and nerves, leading to serious complications that place increasing pressure on healthcare systems.
Researchers noted that treating diabetes-related complications consumes a growing share of health budgets, particularly in regions already grappling with strained healthcare infrastructure.
“This study reframes physical activity as a core component of diabetes complication prevention. Promoting physical activity among people with diabetes could reduce hospitalisations, disability, and healthcare costs, while improving quality of life,” Feter said.
The analysis combined population-based cohort studies, national surveys, global physical activity surveillance systems, and risk estimates from large international meta-analyses.
Co-author Natan Feter from the University of Southern California emphasised the need for policy intervention. “Integrating physical activity promotion into routine diabetes care and national noncommunicable disease strategies is no longer optional. Policies must be tailored to local realities and explicitly address social and gender inequalities,” he said.