Changes in body mass index and three-year incidence of overweight/obesity among urban women aged 30-40 years in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India: A non-concurrent cohort study.

Background: Although studies often report the prevalence of obesity, community-based studies reporting the incidence of overweight or obesity in India are scarce. Such incidence data are crucial for improving projections about the future burden of obesity.

Methods: A non-concurrent follow-up study was done in 2015 in urban Vellore, Tamil Nadu, among two groups of women aged 30-40 years, with body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m (normal) and BMI ≥25 kg/m (overweight/obese) in 2012, to assess changes in BMI.

Open Defecation, Livestock Ownership, and Child Nutritional Status in India.

South Asian children are among the most severely malnourished worldwide. One prominent hypothesis is that open defecation in the local area exposes children to human fecal pathogens that can cause diarrhea and malnutrition. Much of the existing research uses district-level measures of open defecation, which could mask important local-area variation.

Strategies for primary HPV test-based cervical cancer screening programme in resource-limited settings in India: Results from a quasi-experimental pragmatic implementation trial.

Background: In order for low and middle income countries (LMIC) to transition to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) test based cervical cancer screening, a greater understanding of how to implement these evidence based interventions (EBI) among vulnerable populations is needed. This paper documents outcomes of an implementation research on HPV screening among women from tribal, rural, urban slum settings in India.

Methods: A mixed-method, pragmatic, quasi-experimental trial design was used.

Strengthening research capacity of early-mid career researchers: Implementation and evaluation of the Excellence in Non-COmmunicable disease REsearch (ENCORE) program.

High-quality training and networking are pivotal for enhancing the research capacity of early- to mid-career researchers in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. Beyond building research skills, these professionals gain valuable insights from interdisciplinary mentorship, networking opportunities, and exposure to diverse cultures and health systems. Despite the significance of such initiatives, their implementation remains underexplored.

Patient and caregiver perspectives of select non-communicable diseases in India: A scoping review.

Background And Objectives: Patient-reported measures of encounters in healthcare settings and consideration of their preferences could provide valuable inputs to improve healthcare quality. Although there are increasing reports of user experiences regarding health care in India in recent times, there is a lack of evidence from Indian healthcare settings on the care provided for patients with chronic diseases.

Methods: We selected diabetes mellitus and cancer as representatives of two common conditions requiring different care pathways.

Protocol for the formative phase of a trial (SHE-CAN) to test co-designed implementation strategies for HPV-based cervical screening among vulnerable women in two diverse settings in India.

Background: In view of the WHO's call for the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, and current low screening coverage, Indian policy makers need evidence on how to effectively implement cervical screening programmes, ensuring equity in access. Our study will follow the INSPIRE implementation framework to co-design and test HPV-based screening approaches in two states of India with different health system organisation, based on understanding the status of screening as currently implemented, readiness and challenges to transition to HPV-based screening, and preferences of key stakeholders. Here, we describe our protocol for the formative phase of the study (SHE-CAN).

Rural South Indian spirometry values show wide variation compared to existing prediction equations.

Background And Objective: India, a highly heterogeneous country, has no common reference standards for predicting spirometry values, with very few recent studies from south India. This study aimed to create reference equations for rural south Indian adults, based on a population-based survey in Vellore, south India and compare it with other equations from India.

Methods: The data from 583 non-smoking, asymptomatic participants (30 years and older) from a spirometry-based survey for airflow obstruction (rural Vellore, 2018), were used to develop equations for FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FVC.

Self-Collection Cervical Screening in the Asia-Pacific Region: A Scoping Review of Implementation Evidence.

Purpose: Although cervical cancer is a disease of inequity, it can be eliminated as a public health problem through vaccination, screening, and treatment. Human papillomavirus vaginal self-collection cervical screening is a high-performance test that can increase reach of screening. This review describes the different contexts and models of care used to pilot or implement self-collection within the Asia-Pacific, measures the extent that implementation outcome measures are reported and, where available, summarizes key implementation findings.

Recalibration of the Framingham risk score for predicting 10-year risk of cardiovascular events: A non-concurrent rural cohort study from Tamil Nadu.

Objective: To recalibrate the Framingham Risk Score-cardiovascular diseases (FRS-CVD) using 10-year mortality data and baseline risk factor data for a rural cohort and assess the effect of recalibration on proportion categorised as high risk.

Methods: Participants of a cardiovascular risk factor survey aged 30-64 years in 2011-12, from 9 villages of a rural block in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, were followed up for mortality till 2021, as part of an established demographic surveillance system. We calculated both lipid-based and Body Mass Index-based FRS-CVD risk scores, as well as recalibrated scores using risk factor data from the baseline survey and CVD mortality observed over 10 years.

Screening practices for breast and cervical cancer and associated factors, among rural women in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

Background: Population-based screening coverage for breast and cervical cancer screening in the community is inadequately reported in India. This study assessed screening rates, awareness, and other factors affecting screening, among rural women aged 25-60 years in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

Methods: Women aged 25-60 years, from five randomly selected villages of a rural block were included in this cross-sectional study in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

Feasibility, uptake and real-life challenges of a rural cervical and breast cancer screening program in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, South India.

Background: Early detection of breast and cervical cancer by organized screening has been found to reduce mortality rates in trials, but documentation of programme results and challenges is rarely done from non-trial settings. This study reports results of a population-based cancer control programme in a rural block in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, population size (116,085), targeting a population of 18,490 women aged 25-60 years, between November 2014 and March 2018.

Methods: Village-based health education sessions were conducted by social workers, using trained volunteers and health workers to motivate eligible women.

Prevalence of Airflow Obstruction as Measured by Spirometry, in Rural Southern Indian Adults.

Rural population-based estimates of airflow obstruction based on spirometry are unavailable from southern India. This study assessed the prevalence of spirometry-defined airflow obstruction in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.A cross sectional survey was done in nine villages, among adults aged ≥30 years, where previous cardiovascular surveys had been conducted (1994, 2011).

Nutritional status, cognitive achievement, and educational attainment of children aged 8-11 in rural South India.

Background: Malnutrition among children is one of the most pressing health concerns middle- and low-income countries face today, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Early-life malnutrition has been shown to affect long-term health and income. One hypothesized channel linking early-life malnutrition and long-term outcomes is cognitive development.

Perceived Stigma Regarding Mental Illnesses among Rural Adults in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, South India.

Background: Stigma is an important factor that determines whether individuals seek treatment for mental illnesses. Studies assessing public perceptions regarding mental illnesses are scarce in India. This study documents the stigma perceived by a rural population toward patients with mental illness and their families.

Curriculum development for a module on noncommunicable diseases for the master of public health program.

Background: As the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) has been rising globally, various educational programs have introduced chronic disease epidemiology teaching, which is now a component of most of the Master of Public Health (MPH) programs. However, the process of curriculum development for these courses has not been adequately documented for use by educators planning such courses.

Methods: A detailed process of curriculum development based on David Kern's six-step approach was undertaken for a 2-week course on NCDs, as part of the MPH program of a tertiary institution in South India.

Chronic periodontitis among diabetics and nondiabetics aged 35-65 years, in a rural block in Vellore, Tamil Nadu: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Chronic periodontitis is a common cause of poor oral health globally. Those at higher risk of this preventable and easily treatable condition need to be identified so that efforts can be taken to decrease disease burden and subsequent consequences.

Aims: The aims of the study were (1) To compare the prevalence of chronic periodontitis among individuals with and without type 2 diabetes, aged 35-65 years from a rural block in Vellore, Tamil Nadu and (2) to assess risk factors for chronic periodontitis among individuals with diabetes.

Performance of the Achutha Menon Centre Diabetes Risk Score in Identifying Prevalent Diabetes in Tamil Nadu, India.

Background: The Achutha Menon Centre Diabetes Risk Score (AMCDRS), which was developed in rural Kerala State, South India, had not previously been externally validated. We examined the performance of the AMCDRS in urban and rural areas in the district of Vellore in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and compared it with other diabetes risk scores developed from India.

Methods: We used the data from 4,896 participants (30 to 64 years) of a cross-sectional study conducted in Vellore (2010 to 2012), to calculate the AMCDRS scores using age, family history, and waist circumference.

Prevalence of statin use among high-risk patients in urban and rural Vellore, Tamil Nadu: A population-based cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study assessed statin use among diabetics and those with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in rural and urban Vellore, among 6196 participants (30-64 years), in 2010-2012. Statin use among those with known CHD and diabetes (on diabetic medication) was recorded.

Prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases in rural & urban Tamil Nadu.

Background & Objectives: Surveillance of risk factors is important to plan suitable control measures for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The objective of this study was to assess the behavioural, physical and biochemical risk factors for NCDs in Vellore Corporation and Kaniyambadi, a rural block in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, India.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 6196 adults aged 30-64 yr, with 3799 participants from rural and 2397 from urban areas.

Prevalence of coronary heart disease in rural and urban Vellore: A repeat cross-sectional survey.

Background: With the increase of cardiovascular risk factors in India, the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) is also expected to rise. A cross-sectional study in 2010-2012 assessed the prevalence and risk factors for CHD in urban and rural Vellore, Tamil Nadu. The secondary objectives were to compare the current prevalence with the prevalence of CHD in the same areas in 1991-1994.

Rising trend of cardiovascular risk factors between 1991-1994 and 2010-2012: A repeat cross sectional survey in urban and rural Vellore.

Background: Repeat cross sectional surveys document the trend of prevalence rates for non-communicable diseases and their risk factors. In this study, we compare the prevalence rates for risk factors for cardiovascular disease in urban and rural Vellore between 1991-1994 and 2010-2012.

Methods: Cross sectional survey was carried out in 1991-1994 in a rural block in Vellore district and in Vellore town, to study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among adults aged 30-60 years.

Dietary calcium intake and physical activity levels among urban South Indian postmenopausal women.

Introduction: Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our body with varied functions and its dietary deficiency leads to osteoporosis, besides playing a significant role in the pathogenesis of other diseases. The data regarding dietary calcium intake (DCI) among postmenopausal women in urban areas of South India is limited.

Objectives: This study was aimed to assess DCI and physical activity among postmenopausal women.