As an extension of World Health Survey (WHS), India has started its Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) and biomarker measurements are being used for the first time.
SAGE, a World Health Organisation project, began the study in April.
It involves longitudinal study spanning around 10 to 15 years and also a multi-country study involving India, China, Ghana, South Africa, Russia and Mexico.
In India, “we are conducting study in six states with a total sample of 10,600 persons of which 6000 people are above 50 yrs of age while the rest between 18 and 49 yrs,” principal investigator SAGE (India) Dr Arokiasamy of International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS) told PTI.
Although the study will include the same households that participated in WHS-2003 which was completed last year, the uniqueness of this study is “we will be assessing the mental alertness along with physical fitness using various biomarkers,” he said.
“In fact, this is the first kind of study where clinical assessment of mobility prevalence will be done,” he said, adding the biomarkers include anthropometric mesurements including head, waist and hip circumference in addition to height and weight.
Other tests include blood pressure, vision, lung function test, timed walk, grip strength, cognitive and blood tests.
SAGE assumes significance with United Nations Population division’s projection that by 2025, the global population of 50 years and above will have exceeded the number of persons younger than 15 years.