Role Of Diagnostics In Preventive Healthcare — Saving Lives, Reducing Risks

(By: Dr. Ajay A. Phadke, Pathologist,  Agilus Diagnostics)

In healthcare's changing landscape, the focus is changing from treating to preventing sickness. Diagnostics take the spotlight in this arena as they detect ailments, decipher risks on time, and guide informed intervention. This helps dodge complications, gets patients better outcomes, and even keeps health expenses low.

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Early Detection: The First Line Of Defence

Diagnostics are extremely helpful in identifying diseases at their early stages or when no symptoms show up. They let doctors step in before things get worse. Regular HbA1c tests, can spot diabetes sooner and reduce the risk of serious complications later by 42%, as per UKPDS and DCCT studies. 

Likely, 30% of the adults in India have hypertension, according to the NFHS-5. If blood pressure and lipid levels are diagnosed often, heart issues can be detected much earlier. Getting a lipid profile done is highly recommended because it reduces the chances of cardiovascular events by 25%, according to the Journal of the American Heart Association.

A Pap smear test is highly effective, according to The World Health Organisation, as it can reduce the risk of death from cervical cancer by 70 to 80%. But in India, it's severely overlooked. NFHS-5 points out that only 1.9% of women get checked for cervical cancer and under 2% for breast cancer. That's a major gap in preventive healthcare.

Risk Stratification And Personalised Medicine

High-tech scans allow knowing who is at a higher risk of developing certain diseases by analysing their genes and biomarkers. This initiates a trend in advanced health care: you get prevention plans that align with individual risk profiles. Someone with a strong family history of breast cancer, for example, can undergo regular mammography. Data from around the world indicates that mammograms reduce deaths from breast cancer by 20 – 40%.

Monitoring And Lifestyle Modification

Those health checks are also very effective for monitoring health. Getting blood sugar, lipid levels, liver function, and other major parameters tested can help in making more informed choices every day. One can take action early based on the reports to slow down the progression of health issues and even improve quality of life.  

Health gadgets and self-test kits make it easier to keep track of health. These devices are highly useful for managing ongoing health conditions and ensuring people seek medical attention when needed.

Burden Of Non-Communicable Diseases In India

Noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs, cause over 60% of all deaths in India. Early detection and treatment can prevent complications such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Making diagnostic services stronger is critical to reducing these health issues.

[Disclaimer: The information provided in the article, including treatment suggestions shared by doctors, is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]

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