Hypertension and diabetes among top concerns for Indians in 2024: Report

In 2024, patients consulted doctors for lifestyle diseases an average of 4.1 times, seeing a rise from 3.4 in 2023. While the search highlights a growing trend, the search for hypertension, diabetes, cardiology and weight management were the top concerns for people in India in 2024.

As people observed World Health Day on April 7, Indian health services platform Practo released its annual health insights report, with data based on over 30 million users. The report highlights a sharp 84 per cent year-on-year rise in awareness around lifestyle diseases, signaling a clear shift in India’s health priorities. More people are now turning to digital platforms to proactively manage chronic conditions. Nearly half (48 per cent) of the searches came from those aged 25–34, with Tier 2 cities showing the highest growth at 20 per cent year-on-year. 

The report highlights that there were 84 per cent searches that grew year on year for lifestyle diseases with hypertension witnessing the highest growth at 21 per cent year on year. Interestingly, 64 per cent of total searches were from tier-1 cities. The highest growth came from tier-2 cities at 20 per cent. While male searches contributed to 87 per cent of total searches for lifestyle diseases compared to females, about 48 per cent of all searches were in the age group of 25–34. The average number of times patients consulted doctors was 4.1 for lifestyle diseases.

Growing concern about diabetes
Among the many lifestyle diseases today, the platform saw the frequency for consultation about diabetes increase to 3.9 per year from 3.4 in 2023. It was not only that, there was even a 13.66 per cent rise in diabetes-related searches from 2023 to 2024. Among males the highest growth came from those in the age bracket of 18-24 years at 92.59 per cent. Interestingly, the rest of India (beyond Tier 1 and 2) recorded highest growth at 37 per cent growth 

In Tier 1, the following cities saw the growth in searches in 2024 for Diabetes:  

Bengaluru: The searches grew by 6.1 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 8.2 per cent in 2023 
Delhi: The searches grew by 13.45 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 8.8 per cent in 2023 
Mumbai: The searches saw the same growth by 14.8 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 14.7 per cent in 2023 
Kolkata: The searches grew by 12 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 21.2 per cent in 2023 

A case for hypertension 
As there was a growing concern for diabetes, the frequency of hypertension consultation wasn`t far behind as that has also increased to 5.1 per year from 4.9 in 2023. Males aged 35–44 years showed the highest consultation frequency at 5.5 per year. There was also a 21 per cent growth in hypertension related searches year on year. Highest growth among men aged over 65 years (160 per cent) and women aged 45–54 (307 per cent). 

In Tier 1, the following cities saw the growth in searches in 2024 for Hypertension: 
Bengaluru: The searches grew by 14 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 20.8 per cent in 2023 
Delhi: The searches grew by 16.3 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 1.1 per cent in 2023 
Mumbai: The searches grew by 50.9 per cent in 2024 in comparison to -12.7 per cent in 2023 
Kolkata: The searches de-grew by 14.1 per cent in 2024 in comparison to -28.4 per cent in 2023 

Cardiology 
Overall, the average consultation for cardiology frequency rose to 2.5 per year (from 1.6 in 2023). Women aged 35–44 years had the highest consultation frequency at 3.2 per year. There was also a 16 per cent rise in searches related to cardiology from 2023 to 2024. The age group of 18 – 34 showed highest growth among men and women at 142 per cent and 121 per cent respectively. 

In Tier 1, the following cities saw the growth in searches in 2024 for cardiology: 
Bengaluru: The searches grew by 14.5 per cent in 2024 in comparison to -8.4 per cent in 2023 
Delhi: The searches grew by 16.4 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 11.9 per cent in 2023 
Mumbai: The searches grew by 20 per cent in 2024 in comparison to -37.8 per cent in 2023 
Kolkata: The searches grew by 10.3 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 1.8 per cent in 2023 

Weight management 
The average frequency of weight management consultations standing at 2.2 per year in 2024 and 2023. There is also a 6 per cent rise in searches for weight management from 2023 in 2024. The female search growth (12 per cent) outpaced male (4 per cent) year-on-year. The highest growth in weight management searches came from the 18–24 age group across both men (214 per cent) and women (45 per cent).

In Tier 1, the following cities saw the growth in searches in 2024 for weight management: 
Bengaluru: The searches grew by 2.4 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 28.2 per cent in 2023 
Delhi: The searches grew by 17.8 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 19.5 per cent in 2023 
Mumbai: The searches grew by 25.3 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 3.2 per cent in 2023 
Kolkata: The searches grew by 5.1 per cent in 2024 in comparison to 56 per cent in 2023 

Dr Vishal Jani, head – medical research with the platform shared his thoughts on the report, “We are witnessing a clear shift in how people, especially younger adults, are proactively engaging with their health. The increased adoption of digital tools for early detection, ongoing management, and access to verified medical advice reflects a growing shift. Patients today are more empowered to make informed decisions — a move that’s contributing to better health outcomes and not just about treatment, it’s about long-term health ownership.” 

The 2024 trends point to a future where chronic/lifestyle disease management starts early, becomes more inclusive, and is shaped by informed decisions and thereby improved outcomes. 

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