Heart problems, pneumonia, asthma claim 42% of total deaths in India in 2020; COVID 9%

While diseases of circulatory system claimed 32.1% lives, respiratory system related diseases took 10%.

Heart diseases, pneumonia, and asthma together claimed highest number of lives — over 42% — of the total 81.15 lakh medically certified deaths registered in the country in 2020.

According to the ‘Report on Medical Certification of Cause of Death 2020’, prepared by India's Registrar General and Census Commissioner, COVID-19, which hit the country in that year, claimed nearly 9% of the lives — 1,60,618 people.

While diseases of circulatory system claimed 32.1% lives, respiratory system related diseases took 10%.

Those who died due to diseases of pulmonary circulation and other forms of heart diseases and ischemic heart diseases were categorised as deaths due to 'diseases of circulatory system'.

Deaths from pneumonia, asthma, and related diseases were termed as deaths due to the 'diseases of respiratory system'.

The third leading group, constituting 8.9% of the total medically certified deaths, was classified under the 'Codes for special purposes: COVID-19'.

Certain infectious and parasitic diseases, which were the fourth leading cause of death, were mainly constituted by septicemia and tuberculosis. They claimed 7.1% lives in 2020 in India.