Policy & Public Health
University of Leicester launches £5m programme to address cardiovascular burden among older adults in India
CARDIO-India project aims to improve detection, management and quality of life for high-risk elderly populations across 10 states
The University of Leicester has partnered with New Delhi’s Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC) to launch a £5 million research programme aimed at improving the lives of individuals aged 60 and above who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease in India.
The five-year CARDIO-India project will conduct trials across 10 states involving 2,000 adults, focusing on improving blood pressure control and overall quality of life.
Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the initiative seeks to enhance the detection and management of cardiometabolic risk factors among older adults, a group that faces limited access to regular screening and long-term care. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death in India, accounting for over 25% of all mortality, with the burden continuing to rise.
The programme will co-design context-specific interventions and evaluate them through a cluster randomised controlled trial involving 48 mobile health units across the country.
CARDIO-India builds on the Government of India’s Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) initiative under the National Health Mission, aiming to deliver integrated care in rural and semi-urban areas. The programme will begin with a formative and co-design phase involving patients, caregivers, clinicians and frontline health workers, followed by a trial phase where interventions will be implemented over 24 months. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 12 months and 24 months to evaluate effectiveness in real-world settings.
Unlike traditional telemedicine models that rely on patients initiating consultations, CARDIO-India adopts a community-first approach. It combines doorstep clinical assessments with remote specialist support, where community health workers visit patients at home, conduct examinations and connect with specialists through an assisted telemedicine platform supported by a clinical decision support system. Mobile medical units are equipped with diagnostic tools such as electronic stethoscopes, AI-enabled ECGs and handheld echocardiography devices.
All patient interactions will contribute to the creation of digital health records under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission. India’s population aged 60 and above is projected to reach 230 million by 2036 and is expected to surpass the number of children by 2050. Globally, cardiovascular diseases accounted for 19.8 million deaths in 2022, representing around 32% of total deaths, with a significant proportion occurring in low- and middle-income countries like India. The incidence of heart disease is also expected to rise sharply in the coming decades.
The programme is being implemented by CCDC in collaboration with the University of Leicester, leveraging its expertise in cardiometabolic research, clinical trial design and health technology. CARDIO-India will also collaborate with HelpAge India to access its Mobile Health Unit network and patient base. Additional partners include AIIMS New Delhi, Nightingales Medical Trust and Krea University, contributing expertise in ageing, geriatric care and research analytics.
Over the long term, the programme aims to improve control of cardiovascular risk factors, enhance quality of life and increase health-adjusted life years among older adults. In the short term, it will generate evidence on the feasibility and effectiveness of technology-enabled community-based care models.
Speaking about the partnership, Kamlesh Khunti, Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, said, “We at the University of Leicester are excited to collaborate with CCDC on CARDIO-India, which will focus on the care of older adults with cardiovascular disease and its risk factors across India. As a country with a predominantly young population today, India must begin preparing its health systems for the needs of an ageing population. CARDIO-India is our effort to support that transition by strengthening ambulatory care.”
Professor Dorairaj Prabhakaran, Executive Director of the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, said, “CCDC is excited to co-lead CARDIO-India. It builds on a long-standing collaboration with the University of Leicester and is strengthened by the participation of partners including AIIMS New Delhi, Krea University, HelpAge India and Nightingales Medical Trust. Just like our languages, the healthcare needs are also very diverse across the country. With a population that is ageing rapidly, our health systems must be efficient and resilient in ways to cater for their needs in the coming times. CARDIO India is a visionary effort which will help India march towards the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for its future population.”
The five-year CARDIO-India project will conduct trials across 10 states involving 2,000 adults, focusing on improving blood pressure control and overall quality of life.
Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the initiative seeks to enhance the detection and management of cardiometabolic risk factors among older adults, a group that faces limited access to regular screening and long-term care. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death in India, accounting for over 25% of all mortality, with the burden continuing to rise.
The programme will co-design context-specific interventions and evaluate them through a cluster randomised controlled trial involving 48 mobile health units across the country.
CARDIO-India builds on the Government of India’s Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) initiative under the National Health Mission, aiming to deliver integrated care in rural and semi-urban areas. The programme will begin with a formative and co-design phase involving patients, caregivers, clinicians and frontline health workers, followed by a trial phase where interventions will be implemented over 24 months. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 12 months and 24 months to evaluate effectiveness in real-world settings.
Unlike traditional telemedicine models that rely on patients initiating consultations, CARDIO-India adopts a community-first approach. It combines doorstep clinical assessments with remote specialist support, where community health workers visit patients at home, conduct examinations and connect with specialists through an assisted telemedicine platform supported by a clinical decision support system. Mobile medical units are equipped with diagnostic tools such as electronic stethoscopes, AI-enabled ECGs and handheld echocardiography devices.
All patient interactions will contribute to the creation of digital health records under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission. India’s population aged 60 and above is projected to reach 230 million by 2036 and is expected to surpass the number of children by 2050. Globally, cardiovascular diseases accounted for 19.8 million deaths in 2022, representing around 32% of total deaths, with a significant proportion occurring in low- and middle-income countries like India. The incidence of heart disease is also expected to rise sharply in the coming decades.
The programme is being implemented by CCDC in collaboration with the University of Leicester, leveraging its expertise in cardiometabolic research, clinical trial design and health technology. CARDIO-India will also collaborate with HelpAge India to access its Mobile Health Unit network and patient base. Additional partners include AIIMS New Delhi, Nightingales Medical Trust and Krea University, contributing expertise in ageing, geriatric care and research analytics.
Over the long term, the programme aims to improve control of cardiovascular risk factors, enhance quality of life and increase health-adjusted life years among older adults. In the short term, it will generate evidence on the feasibility and effectiveness of technology-enabled community-based care models.
Speaking about the partnership, Kamlesh Khunti, Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, said, “We at the University of Leicester are excited to collaborate with CCDC on CARDIO-India, which will focus on the care of older adults with cardiovascular disease and its risk factors across India. As a country with a predominantly young population today, India must begin preparing its health systems for the needs of an ageing population. CARDIO-India is our effort to support that transition by strengthening ambulatory care.”
Professor Dorairaj Prabhakaran, Executive Director of the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, said, “CCDC is excited to co-lead CARDIO-India. It builds on a long-standing collaboration with the University of Leicester and is strengthened by the participation of partners including AIIMS New Delhi, Krea University, HelpAge India and Nightingales Medical Trust. Just like our languages, the healthcare needs are also very diverse across the country. With a population that is ageing rapidly, our health systems must be efficient and resilient in ways to cater for their needs in the coming times. CARDIO India is a visionary effort which will help India march towards the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for its future population.”
Ageing Population IndiaCARDIO-IndiaCardiovascular Health India
