An Observational Study of the Implementation of the Tobacco-Free Film and Television Policy in India.

Background: Positive portrayals of tobacco use in entertainment media can normalize and perpetuate use. In 2012, the Government of India implemented the Tobacco-Free Film and Television Rules, a first-of-its-kind comprehensive regulation to restrict tobacco depiction in films and television programs. Two complementary studies were undertaken to assess the implementation of the film rules on television and in movie theaters.

Performance of equations for estimation of 24-hour urinary sodium from morning fasting urine samples in a multisite study in India.

Background Dietary salt intake is an important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Estimation of 24-hour salt intake using morning urine samples needs to be validated in the Indian context. We examined the performance of INTERSALT, Tanaka and Kawasaki equations for the estimation of 24-hour urinary sodium from morning fasting urine (MFU) samples.

Estimated Benefits and Risks of Using a Reduced-Sodium, Potassium-Enriched Salt Substitute in India: A Modeling Study.

Background: Salt substitution (ie, replacement of table and cooking salt with potassium-enriched salt substitutes) is a promising strategy to reduce blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular disease, particularly in countries like India where there is high sodium intake, mainly from discretionary salt, and low potassium intake. Life-threatening hyperkalemia from increased potassium intake is a postulated concern for individuals with chronic kidney disease.

Methods: We used comparative risk assessment models to estimate the number of (1) cardiovascular deaths averted due to blood pressure reductions; (2) potential hyperkalemia-related deaths from increased potassium intake in individuals with advanced chronic kidney disease; and (3) net averted deaths from nationwide salt substitution in India.

Price elasticity and affordability of aerated or sugar-sweetened beverages in India: implications for taxation.

Background: The sale of aerated or sugar-sweetened beverages (ASBs) has been consistently growing in India which has also experienced a major increase in non-communicable diseases. This study estimates the price elasticities of ASBs by different household-income groups in India and examine the trends in their affordability.

Methods: The price elasticity for ASBs were estimated using a nationally representative household sample survey on consumption of ASBs in India and with Deaton's method which is robust to self-reported household expenditure surveys.

Interventions to Ensure the Continuum of Care for Hypertension During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Five Indian States-India Hypertension Control Initiative.

Background: Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease in India, but less than 10% of the estimated people with hypertension have blood pressure under control. The India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) was implemented to strengthen hypertension management and control in public sector health facilities. Since late March 2020, lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic limited healthcare access and disrupted the provision of essential health services.

Cancer in the older Indian population: Understanding the current context in an emerging economy.

India is considered a demographically young country with over 65% of the population aged below 35 years. However, improvements in maternal and child health, and infectious diseases, have created a rapid epidemiological transition with an aging population (8.6% in 2011) with a projected increase (19% by 2050), equating to 104 million.

Food environment in and around schools and colleges of Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) in India.

Background: Food policies and environment (availability, accessibility, affordability, marketing) in and around educational institutes can influence food choices and behaviours of children and adolescents.

Methods: Cross-sectional, mixed-methods study was implemented in schools (n = 9; Private = 6, Public = 3) and colleges (n = 4) from Delhi and National Capital Region (India). The data was collected from students of schools (n = 253) and colleges (n = 57), parents of school students (n = 190), teachers (n = 12, schools = 9, colleges = 3) and canteen operators of Private schools and colleges (n = 10; schools = 6, and colleges = 4).

Changes in tobacco depictions after implementation of tobacco-free film and TV rules in Bollywood films in India: a trend analysis.

Background: India's tobacco-free film and TV rules were implemented from 2012. To assess the effect of the rules, we studied tobacco depictions in top-grossing Bollywood films released between 2006 and 2017 and rule compliance after 2012.

Methods: Tobacco incidents and brand appearances were coded in 240 top-grossing Bollywood films (2006-2017) using the Breathe California method.

Revisiting the tax treatment of bidis in India.

Background: Bidi use remains an intractable public health problem for India. This is partly due to the informal nature of the bidi supply chain, including tax exemptions for small producers. The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of making all bidis subject to duty and Goods and Services Tax.

Estimating illicit cigarette consumption using a tax-gap approach, India.

Objective: To estimate the magnitude of illicit cigarette consumption in India using a tax-gap approach.

Methods: In the tax-gap analysis, illicit cigarette consumption in India was defined as the difference between total and legal consumption. Data on total cigarette consumption came from two national Global Adult Tobacco Surveys carried out from 2009 to 2010 and from 2016 to 2017.

The Indian Bidi Industry: Trends in Employment and Wage Differentials.

The bidi industry in India is predominantly an unorganized sector. It continues to enjoy tax benefits, arguably, to protect bidi workers' interests and employment. Our objective was to study trends in employment and wage differentials in the bidi industry using nationally representative data.

Economic Costs of Diseases and Deaths Attributable to Tobacco Use in India, 2017-2018.

Introduction: About 28.6% of Indian adults use tobacco. This study estimates the economic burden of deaths and diseases attributable to smoking and smokeless tobacco (SLT) use for persons aged ≥35 years.

Changes in the affordability of tobacco products in India during 2007/2008 to 2017/2018: a price-relative-to-income analysis.

Background: Increasing the price of tobacco through taxation is a very effective means of reducing tobacco use. However, the impact of price increases can be diluted if consumer incomes are growing strongly. The affordability of tobacco products has, therefore, become an important indicator for tobacco control.