ANNUAL REPORT ON MEDICAL CERTIFICATION OF CAUSE OF DEATH (2023)

NEWS  – The Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) released the Annual Report on Medical Certification of Cause of Death (2023), revealing that circulatory system diseases were the leading cause of medically certified deaths in India in 2023.

HIGHLIGHTS

Key Findings

• 4% of medically certified deaths in 2023 were due to circulatory system ailments.
• Slight decline from over 40% in 2022.
• Medically certified deaths accounted for 22% of all registered deaths in India.
• Wide variation in medical certification efficiency across States/UTs.

Age-Wise Trends

• Highest deaths among people aged 70+
• 55–64 years: second highest incidence
• Circulatory diseases were leading cause of death even among 15+ age group—raising concern over younger population vulnerability.

Types of Circulatory Ailments

• Pulmonary circulation disorders
• Heart diseases
• Other cardiovascular complications

More than half of circulatory-related deaths were heart disease cases.

Context & Health Concerns

• Academic research highlights rising heart attacks among younger Indians.
• Indian Heart Association data suggests nearly 50% of heart attacks in Indian men occur below age 50.
• Lifestyle risks:
  • Sedentary habits
  • Stress
  • Unhealthy diet
  • Tobacco and alcohol use

Certification and Reporting Issues

• Only select States/UTs show strong certification practices such as:
  • Andaman & Nicobar Islands
  • Chandigarh
  • Delhi
  • Goa
  • Lakshadweep
• Many regions continue underreporting due to weak medical certification infrastructure.

Significance

• Highlights urgent public health burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
• Calls for improved:
  • Preventive healthcare
  • Screening
  • Lifestyle awareness
  • Strengthening medical certification systems