Geospatial Patterns of Non-Communicable Diseases among Women (15–49 Years) in Northeast India: Evidence from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in both urban and rural populations, leading to substantial loss of potentially productive years of life, particularly among adults aged 35-64 years. Evidence indicates that without effective preventive strategies, NCD-related deaths may reach alarming levels, especially in low-resource countries, underscoring the need for timely public health interventions. Methodology: This study utilized secondary data on selected NCDs diabetes, thyroid disorders, asthma, and heart diseases from the 4th and 5th rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). The analysis included 98,702 women from NFHS-4 and 103,433 women from NFHS-5, aged 15-49 years, across eight northeastern states of India. Geospatial analysis was employed to identify district-level hotspot and cold-spot clustering based on disease density. Results: A comparison between NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2019-21) revealed heterogeneous trends across the four NCDs. In NFHS-4, diabetes prevalence was highest in Sikkim, heart disease in Meghalaya, and asthma in Tripura. In NFHS-5, Tripura reported the highest prevalence of diabetes and thyroid disorders, while asthma and heart disease were most prevalent in Mizoram. Conclusion: The observed rise in NCD prevalence and hotspot clustering among women over five years is concerning. Targeted, district-specific interventions are warranted to address the growing NCD burden in the region.