Demographic Study of Different Disorders in Punjab, Pakistan

Authors

  • Pervaiz Ali Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan. Author
  • Muhammad Zohaib Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Author
  • Shumaila Ramzan Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan. Author
  • Hamna Shehzad Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. Author
  • Eman Mahmood Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. Author
  • Abdullah Hassan Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. Author

Keywords:

Non-communicable diseases, Diabetes mellitus, Cardiovascular disorders, Prevalence , Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Background

Pakistan is experiencing an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases that challenge its healthcare system. Punjab, being the largest province by population, shows considerable variability in disease prevalence among its districts. Rapid urbanization, dietary changes, and limited healthcare access contribute to the rise of chronic conditions. Identifying district-level patterns is essential to develop evidence-based and targeted health strategies.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December 2024 in five districts of Punjab: Lahore, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Hafizabad, and Bhakkar. Data were collected from hospitals, health centers, and rural health units through patient observations, structured interviews, and questionnaires. Demographic variables, including age, gender, and body mass index (BMI), were documented. Statistical analyses were performed to determine associations between demographic factors and disease prevalence.

Results

The analysis revealed significant variation in disease distribution across districts. Diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disorders were the most prevalent conditions overall. Lahore and Bhakkar demonstrated higher rates of these disorders, particularly among young adults, which correlated with poor dietary intake and unhealthy lifestyle practices. Age, gender, and BMI were significantly associated with the prevalence of both diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the growing burden of non-communicable disorders in Punjab and the importance of district-specific strategies. Health promotion programs focusing on lifestyle modification, dietary awareness, and preventive care are urgently needed. Improving accessibility to healthcare services and implementing tailored interventions for high-burden districts may reduce disparities and strengthen the provincial healthcare system.

Author Biographies

  • Pervaiz Ali, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan.

    Department of Gomal Center of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 

  • Muhammad Zohaib, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

    Department of Medical Sciences,

  • Shumaila Ramzan, Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan.

    Department of Food Science and Nutrition, 

     

  • Hamna Shehzad, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.

    Department of Medical Education, 

  • Eman Mahmood, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.

    Department of Medical Education, 

  • Abdullah Hassan, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.

    Department of Medical Education, 

References

1. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Population by province, 2023. Islamabad: Government of Pakistan; 2023.

2. World Health Organization. Global status report on non-communicable diseases 2014. Geneva: WHO; 2015.

3. Abegunde DO, Mathers CD, Adam T, Ortegon M, Strong K. The burden and costs of chronic diseases in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet. 2007;370(9603):1929–1938. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61696-1

4. Lopez AD, Mathers CD, Ezzati M, Jamison DT, Murray CJL. Global and regional burden of disease and risk factors, 2001: systematic analysis of population health data. Lancet. 2006;367:1747–57. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68770-9

5. Lim SS, Vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K, Adair-Rohani H, et al. A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors. Lancet. 2012;380(9859):2224–60. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61766-8

6. Beaglehole R, Bonita R, Horton R, Adams C, Alleyne G, Asaria P, et al. Priority actions for the non-communicable disease crisis. Lancet. 2011;377(9775):1438–47. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60393-0

7. World Health Organization. Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2014. Geneva: WHO; 2014.

8. Naseem M, Khan NA, Habib SS. Non-communicable diseases and their risk factors in Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2016;32(6):1389–1394. doi:10.12669/pjms.326.11141

9. Rosamond W, Flegal K, Furie K, Go A, Greenlund K, Haase N, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2008 update. Circulation. 2008;117:e25–146. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.187998

10. Mosca L, Barrett-Connor E, Wenger NK. Sex/gender differences in cardiovascular disease prevention. Circulation. 2011;124(19):2145–54. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.968792

11. Alwan A. Global status report: noncommunicable diseases 2010. Geneva: WHO; 2011.

12. Jafar TH, Haaland BA, Rahman A, Razzak JA, Bilger M, Naghavi M, et al. Non-communicable diseases and injuries in Pakistan: strategic priorities. Lancet. 2013;381(9885):2281–2290. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60646-7

13. Afshin A, Sur PJ, Fay KA, Cornaby L, Ferrara G, Salama JS, et al. Health effects of dietary risks in 195 countries, 1990–2017. Lancet. 2019;393(10184):1958–72. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30041-8

14. Khan Y, Khan A, Hussain S. Dietary habits and their association with obesity in Pakistani adults. J Pak Med Assoc. 2020;70(3):450–456. doi:10.5455/JPMA.292408

15. Tisdale MJ. Mechanisms of cancer cachexia. Physiol Rev. 2009;89(2):381–410. doi:10.1152/physrev.00016.2008

16. Raza MR, Ahmed F, Ali S. Urbanization and its impact on lifestyle-related diseases in Lahore. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2018;28(11):850–854. doi:10.29271/jcpsp.2018.11.850

17. Hussain A, Rahman A, Khan S. Epidemiology of typhoid, influenza, measles, and HIV in Pakistan. J Infect Public Health. 2018;11(5):647–654. doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2017.11.007

18. Joshi P, Islam S, Pais P, Reddy S, Dorairaj P, Kazmi K, et al. Risk factors for early myocardial infarction in South Asians compared with individuals in other countries. JAMA. 2007;297(3):286–294. doi:10.1001/jama.297.3.286

19. Saeedi P, Petersohn I, Salpea P, Malanda B, Karuranga S, Unwin N, et al. Global and regional diabetes prevalence estimates for 2019 and projections for 2030 and 2045. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2019;157:107843. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2019.107843

20. Khan T, Khan S, Hussain I. Challenges in healthcare delivery in Punjab: financial and resource limitations. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2023;28(1):25–33. doi:10.1177/13558196221104567

21. Khan S, Hussain I. Urban–rural disparities in healthcare resources in Punjab, Pakistan: evidence from Community Health Index. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020;20:865. doi:10.1186/s12913-020-05618-1

Downloads

Published

2025-03-30

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 01 (2025): Global Medical Insights Journal

Section

Original Article

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Global Medical Insights Journal

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the CreativeCommons Attribution License (CC BY) 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

How to Cite

Demographic Study of Different Disorders in Punjab, Pakistan (P. Ali, M. . Zohaib, S. . Ramzan, H. . Shehzad, E. Mahmood, & A. . Hassan , Trans.). (2025). Global Medical Insights Journal, 1(01), 1-11. https://gmijournal.com/index.php/gmijournal/article/view/9