Household Air Pollution Linked to Higher Risk of Heart Disease in Women in India

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted by the Central University of Karnataka has found a strong association between household air pollution (HAP) and the risk of heart disease among women in India. The study, which analyzed data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted between 2019-2021, found that women aged over 29 years were at a higher risk of heart disease. The study also revealed that women who used cooking fuels other than clean alternatives and those who smoked had a higher risk of heart disease.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found a significant association between household air pollution and the risk of heart disease among women in India.
  • Women aged over 29 years were found to be at a higher risk of heart disease.
  • The use of cooking fuels other than clean alternatives and smoking behavior were identified as risk factors for heart disease.
  • The study suggests that organizations dedicated to public health and environmental well-being should enhance efforts to promote the adoption of clean cooking alternatives to reduce the burden of heart disease among women in India.
  • The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data used in the study included over 7.24 million women aged 15-49 years in India.
  • The study used both bivariate analysis and multivariable binary logistic regressions to determine the relationships between heart disease and various behavioral factors.

Statistics:

  • Over 7.24 million women aged 15-49 years were included in the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data used in the study.
  • The study found that women aged over 29 years were at a higher risk of heart disease (p < 0.05).
  • The use of cooking fuels other than clean alternatives was found to be a significant risk factor for heart disease.
  • The study suggests that reducing household air pollution through the adoption of clean cooking alternatives could lead to a reduction in the risk of heart disease among women in India.

Sources:

  • United States National Institutes of Health
  • Central University of Karnataka
  • National Family Health Survey (NFHS)
  • BMC Public Health
  • "Household air pollution and association with heart disease among women in India: evidence from the nationally representative survey (NFHS-5)" (2025)
  • NewsRx
  • Heart Disease Weekly