Indians Move From Lipid Profile To Advanced Screening Tests Amid Rising Heart Attack Risk
The rising burden of heart diseases — coupled with the alarming rise of heart attacks among Indians — has triggered a national awakening around heart health. Diagnostic centres, digital health platforms, and radiologists alike are witnessing a clear trend: Indians are shifting from fragmented blood tests to comprehensive heart health check-ups, with advanced markers and imaging tests becoming integral to routine preventive care.
In recent months, India has been shaken by the sudden loss of several well-known personalities to heart-related causes. In June alone, actress and model Shefali Jariwala, aged 42, collapsed from cardiac arrest, leaving fans stunned. Her passing follows those of TV star Sidharth Shukla (aged 40) and Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar (46), both of whom succumbed to heart attacks in the past few years. The shock extended beyond entertainment: tech entrepreneur Sunjay Kapur, chairman of Sona Comstar, died of a heart attack at 51, while a young district-level boxer, aged 21-year-old, Mohit Sharm, collapsed mid-match, succumbing instantly to a suspected cardiac event.
In fact, a 2025 autopsy study from BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad, published in National Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, found that 44 per cent of examined hearts had advanced plaque buildup, and 15 per cent of people under 40 years already had severe atherosclerosis.
India accounts for nearly one-fifth of the world's deaths due to heart attacks, and several studies warn that Indians experience cardiovascular disease almost a decade earlier than their Western counterparts.
According to the diagnostic chain Agilus, demand for preventive heart health packages rose by 19 per cent in the last year, while the demand for standalone lipid profile testing fell by 2 per cent. 'A clear shift in heart health behaviour is underway as more people are choosing advanced cardiac risk screening instead of just basic cholesterol checks," Anand K, chief executive officer, Agilus Diagnostics told News18.
'Preventive health packages grew 19 per cent in volume as consumers increasingly opt for comprehensive, higher-value heart health checks. In contrast, traditional lipid profile test volumes fell by 2 per cent over the same period, further supporting the trend toward sophisticated risk diagnostics."
Experts believe that today's consumer is informed and proactive. 'They are not just checking cholesterol; they are choosing risk markers that offer a fuller picture of heart health," Anand added.
Younger patients are driving the demand
The most striking development is the profile of those seeking preventive tests. Once thought of as something for people in their 50s and 60s, cardiac check-ups are now being embraced by younger Indians.
Dr Sameer Bhati, former director, diagnostic chain Star Imaging and Path Lab, pointed out, 'We are seeing more and more young people in their 20s and 30s visiting diagnostic centres for preventive tests. Many are first-timers who never considered screening earlier."
Bhati, who is now the director at Star Welfare and Foundation, said, 'Young age groups are increasingly interested in preventive heart screening. The proportion of 18 to 29-year customers increased from 5 per cent in 2023 to 10 per cent in 2025, to date."
'The age group between 30 to 39 years also increased from 15 per cent to 20 per cent over the same timeframe. Gender split remains consistent at around 60 per cent male and 40 per cent female," Bhati explained.
For instance: In Delhi-NCR, the tier-2 suburbs of Gurugram and Ghaziabad now account for around 30 per cent of heart-health test volumes, from approximately 20 per cent in 2023."
Data by deep-tech medical AI company, 5C Network – which deploys high-end AI and medical imaging technology in hospitals across India – shows that the share of patients under 40 years in cardiac imaging rose from 18 per cent in 2023 to 26 per cent in 2025 (to date). In fact, they noticed that in 2025, female participation is up by 5 per cent since 2023, with the latest data showing 63 per cent males and 37 per cent females coming for cardiac studies.
Demand for advanced heart markers
In an interesting shift, the traditional lipid profile and ECG are no longer enough for increasingly health-aware Indians. 'While lipid profile testing has maintained a steady presence, contributing 22–25 per cent of lifestyle-related disease tests, other cardiac risk marker tests have recorded a notable 34 per cent increase in uptake between 2024 and 2025," Aditya Kandoi, CEO and founder, Redcliffe Labs, told News18.
'Lipid monitoring remains a trusted baseline for preventive check-ups," Kandoi said while adding that '…. but, cardiac risk markers have moved a step further, as they help detect early inflammation and hidden risks, enabling proactive intervention before symptoms appear."
5C network's Kalyan also echoed a similar trend – a rise in demand for advanced imaging. One of the top five tests at 5C Network – which serves over 2,500 hospitals and diagnostic centres across India – is 'coronary calcium scoring" which is used to identify hard plaque in arteries, really seeing a pick up in numbers, primarily because of more awareness.
'Heart-related screening and diagnostic tests were up approximately 25 per cent. While chest X-rays went up in general, CT scan for calcium scoring and coronary angiogram saw a big jump," explained Kalyan Sivasailam, founder and CEO, 5C Network.
He highlighted, 'Lipoprotein(a) and Apolipoprotein B are now not only in our advanced screening packages, but also being requested by customers directly."
Similarly, Agilus' Anand explained that the demand for advanced heart health tests such as hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a), and troponin has gone up. 'These advanced markers help detect inflammation, genetic lipid disorders, and early heart muscle injury-critical risk factors often missed by standard cholesterol tests," he explained.
How diagnostic landscape evolving?
According to Redcliffe Labs, the diagnostic landscape in India has seen a steady rise in preventive testing over the last three years. Labs' data shows that the most commonly ordered tests in 2024 and 2025 remained consistent, with lipid profile, liver function, kidney function, diabetes-related tests and complete blood count (CBC) dominating the top five. 'Compared to 2023, the demand for these tests has grown steadily, reflecting a growing awareness about lifestyle-related conditions," Aditya Kandoi, chief executive officer, Redcliffe Labs, told News18.
'The increased adoption of preventive testing is an encouraging sign. It shows that people are not just seeking healthcare when they fall sick, but also prioritising regular monitoring to make informed lifestyle and treatment decisions."
Overall, the stability of the top five tests over the years reflects how core diagnostics remain central to health management, while the rising volumes underscore India's shift towards preventive care.
From Reactive to Proactive Health
The overall movement is unmistakable: Indians are shifting from a reactive approach to healthcare — where tests followed symptoms — to a more proactive mindset of prevention. Data from Agilus confirms this, with a marked rise in comprehensive preventive health packages that go well beyond the traditional lipid profile. The trend is echoed by 5C Network, which shows growing demand for advanced cardiac imaging such as CT angiography and cardiac scans. Redcliffe Labs too sees increasing demand for next-generation biomarkers, including high-sensitivity CRP, homocysteine and apolipoproteins, tests that were once niche but are now entering the mainstream.
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While the momentum is promising, experts caution that much of the surge in preventive cardiac testing remains urban-centric. 'Geographically, risk is not a metro‑only phenomenon. A study conducted by us showed a shallow urban–non‑urban gradient with abnormalities in Tier‑1 being approximately 51 per cent versus tier‑2/3 signalling 48 pe cent. It reflects that cardiovascular risk is widespread across India, and prevention strategies must be national in scope, not city‑centric," Kandoi from Redcliffe Labs added.
For now, though, one thing is certain: heart health has moved from being a medical afterthought to a personal priority. And as more Indians sign up for check-ups, the hope is that early detection and lifestyle interventions can curb the country's growing cardiac burden.
About the Author
Himani Chandna
Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass...Read More
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August 20, 2025, 10:12 IST
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