New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS): More than 40 percent of the residents of the national capital in the age group of 20 to 50 years have abnormal cholesterol levels which can result in heart diseases, a survey ahead of World Heart Day (Sep 29) revealed Saturday.

According to the survey conducted between 2009 and 2014 by Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. on over 1.7 lakh people, "42.09 percent of the people in the age group of 20-50 years had abnormal cholesterol levels".

Puneet K. Nigam, chief of lab services at Metropolis, said: "The study underlines how the service class of Delhi is at the greater risk of heart attacks."

"The young and the employed in the city endure prolonged work hours, hectic commutes and the growing incidence of obesity, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle which in turn is definitely stalling Delhi's heartbeat," he added.

The survey noted that the incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease has been steadily rising in India and the major factors attributed for this are changes in lifestyle, lack of exercise, consumption of unhealthy food, increased stress levels and amplified smoking and use of tobacco.

According to Metropolis, heart disease is the leading cause of death in India with around 35 percent of the population suffering from a heart disease.

On an average, three out of ten people suffer from some form of heart disease or the other.