Ahmedabad: Heart diseases (CVDs) are going up at an alarming rate in Gujarat. Sales of heart drugs saw a 42% spurt during the last two years. This is revealed by data that Pharmarack has been gathering from the market about sales of heart therapy drugs, which stood at ₹1,105 crore in November 2022 and jumped to ₹1,571 crore in November 2024. A big public health problem in itself. Moving Annual Total (MAT) is the calculation of sales figures over the last 12 months. It is updated regularly to show market trends. Sheetal Sapale, Vice President (Commercial) at Pharmarack, cited the reasons for this growth:

• Higher Disease Incidence: A significant portion of Gujarat’s population over 40 years suffers from hypertension or kidney-related ailments.

• Innovative Drug Solutions: Introduction of high-end molecules like semaglutide and Vericiguat has bolstered treatment outcomes.

• Anti-Obesity Awareness: Growth in the anti-obesity drug segment, with obesity being a key precursor to CVDs.

It is also driven by a greater consciousness and increased detection in time due to increased testing and improved health care programs.

Expert Thoughts on the Trend
At the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre (UNMICRC), Dr. Jayesh Prajapati, who leads the cardiology department, stressed that managing cholesterol with statins helps prevent CVDs.He noticed that after Covid, heart problems and more health checks have made people more aware, leading to an increase in both tests and the use of medicine.
Dr. Jay Shah, a senior heart doctor from HCG Hospitals, talked about how blood thinners and beta blockers can help prevent problems. He pointed out that these medicines are important even in regular doctor visits.
"While OPD numbers haven't risen drastically, the sale of preventive medications has grown as general practitioners prescribe them to maintain health stability," he explained. He also pointed out that while newer drug classes have entered the market, well-established medications continue to dominate usage in major CVD categories.

Reasons for Increasing Heart Problems in Gujarat

• Poor Lifestyle Choices: Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, and stress have fueled CVD cases.

• Good Health Care: Enhanced examination skills and additional curative alternatives.

• Obesity Problem: Increasing awareness on antiobesity measures since obesity is highly associated with risks of heart disorders.

This increased sales of cardiac drugs along with an increase in awareness and treatments point to the necessity for sustained efforts in prevention, lifestyle modifications, and early intervention to combat the growing heart disease crisis in Gujarat.