Goa's Groundbreaking Health Study Aims for Early NCD Detection

The Goa government collaborates with Tata Memorial Centre and Oxford University to initiate a 20-year study for early diagnosis of chronic diseases. With a sample of 40,000 participants annually, the study examines health changes, aiming to identify lifestyle and genetic risk factors for non-communicable diseases.

The Goa government, in a landmark move, has teamed up with Tata Memorial Centre and Oxford University for a 20-year longitudinal cohort study aimed at the early detection of chronic and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

This initiative, formalized through a memorandum of understanding on March 11, involves random sampling of 40,000 individuals annually over the initial three years. The cohort will be observed over time to monitor shifts in health outcomes, providing crucial data on risk factors like lifestyle and genetics in the coastal state.

Project partners emphasize its importance as Goa records high rates of diabetes and hypertension. Goa Medical College's Dr. Shivanand Bandekar emphasized the urgency, noting incidences of heart attacks among young people. Meanwhile, renowned experts cite the study's capacity to inform on conditions through rigorous stages involving enrollment, data collection, and biological assessments.

(With inputs from agencies.)