Pan-American prevalence of smokeless tobacco use and association with oral potentially malignant disorders and head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use and its association with oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and head and neck cancer (HNC) in the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) region. STUDY DESIGN: A literature search was conducted across 9 databases and other sources. The eligibility criteria were pediatric (0-18 years old) and adult (19 years and older) populations consuming any type of SLT. Meta-analysis was performed to determine the prevalence of SLT and the association between its use and OPMDs/HNC in the PAHO region; the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation tool was used to verify the certainty of evidence. RESULTS: Fifty-nine studies from 6 PAHO countries were included, of which 51 were also subjected to quantitative analysis. The pooled SLT prevalence of use was 15% (95%CI: 11.93-18.69) overall, 17% (95%CI: 13.25-22.65) in adults, and 11% (95%CI: 8.54-14.78) in the pediatric population. The highest reported SLT prevalence of use was 33.4% (95%CI: 27.17-39.93) in Venezuela. HNC was positively associated with SLT use (OR = 1.98, 95%CI: 1.54-2.55), with a moderate certainty of evidence. Among OPMDs, only leukoplakia reported a positive association with SLT use (OR = 8.38; 95%CI: 1.05-67.25). However, the quality of the evidence was very low. CONCLUSION: A high consumption of SLT use, chewing tobacco and snuff, is reported among the adult population residing in the PAHO region with a positive association with the development of oral leukoplakia and HNC.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on an online cancer screening training programme for healthcare providers in the public sector in India: learnings from a hub and spoke model perspective.

Introduction: This article elicits our experiences and strategic approaches to ensure the sustainability of the online capacity-building programmes for healthcare providers (HCPs) in comprehensive cancer screening through the 'Hub and Spoke' model during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: During the first wave of COVID-19, training for three cohorts of medical officers (MO) (Batch-A) was ongoing (May-December 2020). The Indian health system abruptly shifted focus towards containing the COVID-19 spread, leading to new challenges in conducting training courses. A new five-step strategic approach for cohort MO-14 (Batch-B) was adopted to spread awareness about the importance of cancer screening and the roles and responsibilities of HCPs in the implementation and conduct of practical sessions in their states in collaboration with their respective state governments. We also adopted social media - WhatsApp for official communication. Results: Enrolling Batch-B following the new strategic approach reduced refusals by 25% and dropouts by 36% compared to Batch-A. Course compliance and completion was a significant 96% in Batch-B. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic opened a window of opportunity to understand the need for vital changes to improve the quality of our hybrid cancer screening training. Inclusion of the state government in planning and implementing the changes, awareness among HCPs about the importance of training and responsible acceptance of cancer screening, district-wise approach, use of social media in sharing course materials and conducting in-person training in the respective state have demonstrated significant impact on the quality of the training and in scaling-up of cancer screening. Prolonged mentorship, robust Internet connectivity for providers and training on handling gadgets and online video communication would profoundly benefit remote training programmes.A well-devised backup system is essential for training programmes during unforeseen eventualities such as the COVID pandemic.

Systematic review of determinants and interventions of areca nut cessation: curbing a public health menace.

BACKGROUND: Areca nut (AN) is a proven human carcinogen and a global public health menace. There is yet no review providing comprehensive information on the determinants and interventions available for cessation of AN. This systematic review was aimed at summarizing the available literature on drivers and interventions for cessation of AN chewing habit and to highlight the research lacunae. METHODS: A systematic literature search (from 1990 till March 2021) was conducted for studies on AN cessation. Relevant data were extracted independently by two authors. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies were included, which highlighted the influence of socio-cultural factors, addictive nature of AN and withdrawal symptoms as barriers to quitting. However, the knowledge of ill-effects of AN use on health, absence of concurrent alcohol use or smoking and family pressure were associated with likelihood of AN cessation. The interventions utilized for AN cessation have been behavioural in majority of the studies except for one where antidepressants were used for this purpose. CONCLUSIONS: The current review emphasizes the imperative need of appropriate cessation strategies for AN chewing habit including enhancing awareness of the harmful effects and research into additional behavioural and pharmacologic cessation therapies to control this significant public health problem.

Evidence of areca nut consumption in the United States mainland: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Areca nut (AN) is an addictive substance consumed in the Southeast region and is highly associated with oral premalignant lesions and oral cancer. The impact of AN use in the United States (US) is largely unknown, but the products are readily available and probably used by a significant fraction of Asian immigrants or descendants living in the US. We aimed at assessing AN use prevalence among the Asian community in Houston, Texas. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire was used to interview adult individuals (≥ 18 years of age) who self-identified as Asian immigrants or descendants residing in Houston. Means, frequencies, and proportions were reported. Factors associated with AN use were evaluated using logistic regression. RESULTS: We surveyed 275 individuals (58% women, 43% between 35-54 years old, 67% born outside of the US, and 6% concurrent smokers). Among respondents, 91% were familiar with AN products, 17% self-reported ever use of AN products in the US, and 31% had friends/family members who were AN ever users. AN use was significantly associated with being Indian Subcontinent immigrants or descendants (ISID) (OR = 3·9; CI: 1·10,13·81; p = 0·035) and having friends/family members using AN products (OR = 6·2; CI: 1·69, 22·69; p = 0·006). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide quantitative data on the prevalence of AN ever use and context for future AN prevention and cessation interventions specific to the Southeast Asian groups living in the US mainland. This is crucial for the prevention and control of oral cancer and other detrimental conditions related to AN consumption.

Feasibility of Training Community Health Workers in the Detection of Oral Cancer.

Importance: Visual screening for oral cancer has been found to be useful in a large randomized clinical trial in Kerala, India, showing substantial reduction in mortality. To address the shortage of medical personnel in resource-deficient regions, using the services of community health workers has been proposed as a strategy to fill the gap in human resources in health care. Objective: To assess the feasibility of community health workers in screening and early detection of oral cancer using a mobile application capturing system. Design, Setting, and Participants: A cross-sectional study using a household sample was conducted in 10 areas of Gautam Budhnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India, from January 31, 2020, to March 31, 2021, to assess the feasibility of identification of oral lesions by community health workers using a mobile phone application compared with diagnosis by trained dentists in a screening clinic. Men and women aged 30 years or older as well as tobacco users younger than 30 years were eligible for screening. Interventions: Screening by trained community health workers vs dentists. Results: A total of 1200 participants were screened by the community health workers during their home visits; of these, 1018 participants (526 [51.7%] men; mean [SD] age, 35 [16] years) were also referred and screened by the dentists a clinic. There was near-perfect agreement (κ = 0.9) between the findings of the community health workers and the dentists in identifying the positive or negative cases with overall sensitivity of 96.69% (95% CI, 94.15%-98.33%) and specificity of identification of 98.69% (95% CI, 97.52%-99.40%). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study, trained community health workers were able after initial supervision by qualified dentists to perform oral cancer screening programs. These findings suggest that community health workers can perform this screening in resource-constrained settings.

Risk Reversal of Oral, Pharyngeal and Oesophageal Cancers after Cessation of Betel Quid Users: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Areca nut (AN), the principal ingredient of betel quid (BQ) has been categorized as a human carcinogen associated with various cancers of upper aerodigestive tract. However, there has been no attempt at summarizing the risk reversal of oral and other cancers after cessation of BQ with or without tobacco (BQ+T/BQ-T). OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of cessation of betel quid without tobacco (BQ-T) and with tobacco (BQ+T) on reversal of the risk of oral, pharyngeal and oesophageal cancers. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted for publications evaluating risk of these three cancers among current and former users of BQ-T or BQ+T. The overall as well as subgroup meta-relative risks (meta-RR) were estimated using random-effect models. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies, seven each providing estimates for BQ-T and BQ+T, were identified. For BQ-T and oral cancer, a 28.9% risk reversal was observed among former users (meta-RR 5.61, 95% CI 2.24-14.04) compared to current users (meta-RR 7.89, 95% CI 3.90-15.98). A risk reversal of 48% was noted for pharyngeal cancer - former users (meta-RR 2.50, 95% CI 1.43-4.38), current users (meta-RR 4.81, 95% CI 2.05-11.30). For oesophageal cancer, no appreciable difference in risk was observed between current and former users.For BQ+T and oral cancer the overall meta-RR indicated a higher risk in former than in current users. However, sensitivity analysis including only better-quality studies showed a modestly lower cancer risk in former than in current users. Compared to current users, the risk in former users who quit less than 10 years ago (meta-RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.90-1.63) was increased, but decreased in former users who quit more than 10 years ago (meta-RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.48-1.07). CONCLUSION: Our analysis highlights for the first time the potential of risk reversal for oral and pharyngeal cancers following cessation of BQ-T and for oral cancer in long-term quitters (greater than 10 years) of BQ+T. The suggestive evidence from this systematic review further supports the imperative need of a strong policy to reduce the initiation of BQ use and inclusion of interventions for BQ cessation in cancer control efforts especially in geographic regions where BQ chewing is prevalent.

Cancer in the older Indian population: Understanding the current context in an emerging economy.

India is considered a demographically young country with over 65% of the population aged below 35 years. However, improvements in maternal and child health, and infectious diseases, have created a rapid epidemiological transition with an aging population (8.6% in 2011) with a projected increase (19% by 2050), equating to 104 million. In addition to the well-articulated issues surrounding the care of the older patients with cancer, the Indian context as an emerging economy provides additional social, political, economic and clinical challenges. This review addresses the key issues and possible solutions germane to both policymakers in India and other emerging economies. Extension of cancer prevention, equal, optimal treatment opportunities, and inclusion in clinical trials, akin to the younger population, must be encouraged. Various national health initiatives require effective implementation, to provide uniform, evidence-based, cancer care across India. Designated geriatric oncology departments, and required care at the primary healthcare level are essential.

Asking physicians how best to implement cervical cancer prevention services in India: A qualitative study from Mysore.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women. Screening is an effective prevention strategy, but achieving high screening rates depend upon identifying barriers at multiple levels of healthcare delivery. There is limited research on understanding the perspectives of providers who deliver cancer prevention services. The objective of this study was to explore physician perspectives on cervical cancer prevention, barriers to effective implementation, and strategies to overcome these barriers in India. Guided by the "Multilevel influences on the Cancer Care Continuum" theoretical framework, we conducted semi-structured interviews with physicians in Mysore, India. From November 2015- January 2016, we interviewed 15 (50.0%) primary care physicians, seven (23.3%) obstetrician/gynecologists, six (20.0%) oncologists, and two (6.7%) pathologists. We analyzed interview transcripts in Dedoose using a grounded theory approach. Approximately two-thirds (n = 19, 63.3%) of the participants worked in the public sector. Only seven (23.3%) physicians provided cervical cancer screening, none of them primary care physicians. Physicians discussed the need for community-level, culturally-tailored education to improve health literacy and reduce stigma surrounding cancer and gynecologic health. They described limited organizational capacity in the public sector to provide cancer prevention services, and emphasized the need for further training before they could perform cervical cancer screening. Physicians recommend an integrated strategy for cervical cancer prevention at multiple levels of uptake and delivery with specific efforts focused on culturally-tailored stigma-reducing education, community-level approaches utilizing India's community health workers, and providing physician training and continuing education in cancer prevention.

Advanced virtual mentoring of dentists in oral cancer screening and tobacco cessation - An interventional study.

Context: Oral cancer is the third common cancer in India. Its mortality can be reduced through early detection and tobacco cessation ideally by dentists owing to their forte of work. Aim: This study was conducted to discuss effectiveness of an advanced tele-mentoring programme in oral cancer screening and tobacco cessation for dentists across India. Settings and Design: Online, interventional study. Methods and Material: The 14-week long training programme with 52 participants/spokes from across India had weekly hour-long online sessions comprising of an expert-led didactic and case discussions by spokes. Online evaluation (pre- and post-training, post-session), weekly and post-one-year feedback were conducted. Successful spokes attended a hands-on workshop subsequently. Statistical Analysis Used: One and independent sample t-tests determined the significance of the evaluation scores of the participants. Findings on attitudes and practice-related questions are presented as simple percentages. Results: A notable increase in the overall and per-session mean knowledge score, and confidence in oral cancer screening was observed. Many participants started these services at their clinics, thereby reducing further referrals, and were also motivated to spread community awareness about the same. Conclusion: This tele-mentoring programme, based on the novel Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes model, is the first oral cancer screening training programme for dentists. This model-comprising of expert didacts, case discussions, and significant spoke-expert interaction-is a promising best-practices tool for reducing the disparity in knowledge and skills regarding oral cancer prevention among dentists across different locations. This would enable these most appropriate healthcare providers to contribute toward the overall goal of oral cancer prevention.

Tobacco use among urban slum dwellers attending a cancer screening clinic in the National Capital Region of India: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco consumption in India varies based on the place of residence (urban/rural). Minimal, exclusive information exists regarding the same for 'urban slum' dwellers. The current study determines the tobacco use pattern among such individuals in Noida, Uttar Pradesh (India). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the urban slum residents visiting the institutional clinic between December 2016 and June 2019. Apart from tobacco history, routine recording of the basic demographic details and oral visual examination was carried out for the participants. For categorical data, the percentage of different parameters was calculated and for quantitative data, descriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were employed to determine the association between the two categorical variables. To find the strength of association between tobacco use and the socio-demographic factors, univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression was used. RESULTS: Among 2,043 urban slum respondents (602 male, 1441 female), 15.0% (n = 308) currently consumed tobacco. The majority were smokeless tobacco (SLT) users (among both males and females). Among males, khaini (42.1%) and gutkha (32.5%) and among females gul (36.1%) were the most widely used tobacco products. CONCLUSION: The majority of the Noida urban slum population attending the screening clinic consumed SLT. Gender variation in the tobacco form and product-specific consumption patterns indicates that the undertaking of urban slums-specific surveys is essential. Tobacco control programmes must incorporate appropriate strategies addressing such subgroups of tobacco users.

Smokeless Tobacco Initiation, Use, and Cessation in South Asia: A Qualitative Assessment.

INTRODUCTION: Smokeless tobacco (ST) is a significant South Asian public health problem. This paper reports a qualitative study of a sample of South Asian ST users. METHODS: Interviews, using a piloted topic guide, with 33 consenting, urban dwelling adult ST users explored their ST initiation, continued use, and cessation attempts. Framework data analysis was used to analyze country specific data before a thematic cross-country synthesis was completed. RESULTS: Participants reported long-term ST use and high dependency. All reported strong cessation motivation and multiple failed attempts because of ease of purchasing ST, tobacco dependency, and lack of institutional support. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to support cessation attempts among consumers of South Asian ST products should address the multiple challenges of developing an integrated ST policy, including cessation services. IMPLICATIONS: This study provides detailed understanding of the barriers and drivers to ST initiation, use, and cessation for users in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. It is the first study to directly compare these three countries. The insight was then used to adapt an existing behavioral support intervention for ST cessation for testing in these countries.

Tobacco use as a well-recognized cause of severe COVID-19 manifestations.

INTRODUCTION: The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection is caused by the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affecting the lungs. All tobacco-related illnesses including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and coronary artery disease are known to reduce the lung capacity and impair the immune system of the body and can greatly influence the ability to fight the novel coronavirus. The purpose of this state-of-the-art literature review is to summarize the evidence of the association of tobacco use with the severity of the COVID-19 manifestations. METHOD: Articles describing the association of tobacco use with the severity of COVID-19 manifestations were searched on PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google. This review covers the relevant studies on the subject published from January 1, 2020 to September 10, 2020. RESULTS: Tobacco use in all forms, whether smoking or chewing, is significantly associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes. Pre-existing comorbidities in tobacco users such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases and hypertension were found to further aggravate the disease manifestations making the treatment of such COVID-19 patients more challenging due to their rapid clinical deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Current review indicates that nicotine exposure is linked to cardiopulmonary vulnerability to COVID-19 and tobacco use can be a potential risk factor for not only getting the viral infection but also its severe manifestations. The current pandemic provides a teachable moment to break the cycle of nicotine addiction and accelerate national tobacco control programs to achieve a tobacco-free world.

Behavioral Interventions for Smokeless Tobacco Cessation.

INTRODUCTION: Consumption of smokeless tobacco (SLT) is on the rise (especially in the World Health Organization South-East Asian region) and has numerous repercussions over the consumer's health. This article reviews studies performed for SLT cessation using behavioral interventions, worldwide till 2017. METHODS: A systematic review by PICO (Problem, intervention, comparison, outcome) of behavioral intervention-based SLT cessation studies with minimum 6 months' follow-up, reporting outcomes in terms of risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI), published between 1992 and 2017 was performed. This was followed by a meta-analysis of the outcomes of these studies by deriving the pooled estimates by the random effects model, for those on adults and youth, categorized according to the type of country where the study was performed, that is, in terms of developed or developing. Publication bias among the included studies was assessed by the Begg's test. RESULTS: Nineteen eligible studies comprising 24 498 participants, from all over the world were included. Behavioral interventions showed overall efficacy in SLT cessation in adults (RR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.32 to 1.94) both in the developed (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.16 to 1.63) and developing (RR = 2.79, 95% CI = 2.32 to 3.25) countries. However, these interventions did not prove effective for SLT cessation among youth overall (RR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.73 to 1.41), either in the developed (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 0.58 to 2.21) or in the developing (RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.68 to 1.07) countries. Publication bias was noted in all the studies among adults (p = .22) and youth (p = .05). CONCLUSION: Behavioral interventions as a single modality are effective in SLT cessation, both in the developed and developing countries. Health care providers should be sensitized to provide the same. IMPLICATIONS: A recent literature survey by Cochrane reviewed studies on interventions for SLT, including behavioral interventions, which included only those from the developed countries. The current analysis provides a broader, global update on the same by including studies performed both in the developed and developing countries (specifically the South-East Asian region-the high burden countries of SLT products).

Project ECHO: a Potential Best-Practice Tool for Training Healthcare Providers in Oral Cancer Screening and Tobacco Cessation.

The oral cancer pandemic and inadvertent tobacco consumption have rendered timely oral cavity screening and tobacco cessation essential, skills which most healthcare providers (HCPs) lack. Project "Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes" (ECHO) is a proven best-practice tool for virtual telementoring of primary care providers by experts at academic health centers, in managing complex medical conditions in rural, expert-deficient setups. For the first time, our organization in India has utilized this method for training HCPs in oral cancer screening, across the country and abroad. The program comprised eight, weekly, hour-long sessions, on oral cancer screening and tobacco cessation, hosted online by our Organization (hub) through the Zoom web-conferencing application, with 48 HCPs (spokes) attending from their respective locations (pan-India, n = 47; Libya, n = 1). Each session comprised one expert-led didactic and two participant-led case presentations, culminating with educative discussions. Participants filled out online, program-evaluation (pre and post) questionnaires having 10 similar, multiple-choice questions each (score for every correct response = 1); total responses were later statistically analyzed. Lesser participants completed the post-evaluation questionnaire which could be due to it being optional, their busy schedule, or apprehension of being assessed. The program evaluation results illustrate a significant knowledge gain among participants regarding oral cancer screening and tobacco cessation, i.e., from a mean knowledge score of 6.7 in pre-evaluation to 7.4 in post-evaluation (p < 0.05). Thus, the ECHO model can be utilized as a convenient, cost-effective, large-scale, best-practice, telementoring tool for training HCPs in oral cancer screening and tobacco cessation, especially in populous, resource-deficient countries.

Smokeless tobacco cessation interventions: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption is a global health issue with about 350 million users and numerous adverse health consequences like oral cancer and myocardial disorders. Hence, cessation of SLT use is as essential as smoking cessation. An update on the available literature on SLT cessation intervention studies is provided here. METHODS: Through an extensive literature search on SLT cessation intervention studies, using keywords such as smokeless tobacco, cessation, interventions, quitlines, brief advice, nicotine replacement therapy, nicotine gum, nicotine lozenge, nicotine patch, bupropion, varenicline, mHealth, etc., 59 eligible studies were selected. Furthermore, efficacy of the interventions was assessed from the reported risk ratios (RRs) [confidence intervals (CIs)] and quit rates. RESULTS: Studies were conducted in Scandinavia, India, United Kingdom, Pakistan and the United States of America, with variable follow up periods of one month to 10 years. Behavioural interventions alone showed high efficacy in SLT cessation; most studies were conducted among adults and showed positive effects, i.e. RR [CI] 0.87 [0.7, 1.09] to 3.84 [2.33, 6.33], quit rate between 9-51.5 per cent, at six months. Regular telephone support/quitlines also proved beneficial. Among pharmacological modalities, nicotine lozenges and varenicline proved efficacious in SLT cessation. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Globally, there is limited information available on SLT cessation intervention trials, research on which must be encouraged, especially in the low-resource, high SLT burden countries; behavioural interventions are most suitable for such settings. Appropriate training/sensitization of healthcare professionals, and school-based SLT use prevention and cessation programmes need to be encouraged.

Ellis-van Creveld with an Unusual Dental Anomaly: A Case Report.

The Ellis-van Creveld (EVC) syndrome is a chondroectodermal dysplasia and is characterized by the cardinal features of disproportionate short stature, polydactyly, hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, and congenital heart malformations, along with other skeletal and dental abnormalities. It is a rare condition, with very few cases reported in the medical literature. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder with variable expressions, due to the mutation of the EVC syndrome 1 and 2 genes, which are located on chromosome 4p16. The present case report describes the EVC syndrome in a 14-year-old girl, who presented with a tetrad of all the cardinal features and other associated features. Additional unusual dental findings such as single-rooted funnel-shaped molars, reduced crown size, enamel hypoplasia, supernumerary teeth, dental fusion, taurodontism, abnormal occlusal anatomy with wide grooves, and atypical cusps have been reported in most previous cases of this syndrome. However, in our patient, surprisingly, the teeth present were relatively non-anomalous, both clinically and radiographically (i.e., with none of the usually found abnormalities mentioned above). The only abnormal dental findings were those of absent maxillary and mandibular incisors (including impacted permanent incisors) and mild malocclusion, a novel point of this case.

Non Communicable Disease Risk Factors and their Trends in India

Background: India is a populous country of about 1.3 billion. Non communicable diseases (NCDs) contribute to around 5.87 million (60%) of all deaths in India. Hence, the objectives of this paper are to find baseline information on different NCD risk factors coverage and to determine their trends in India. Methods: For this systematic review, PubMed, Google and different surveillance systems were searched. Of the search results, 41 papers/survey reports were eventually assessed for eligibility. National and state representative data on NCD risk factors (for the major NCDs like cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory disease, cancer and diabetes) having World Health Organization(WHO) indicator definitions, covering rural and urban population, were included in the study. Thereafter, state-wise population proportion was added and divided by the total Indian population to determine the percentage of population coverage for each risk factor by the surveys. Also, the old and current data of the periodic surveys were compared to assess prevalence trends. Results: Various national/state level surveys in India include single or multiple risk factors. Nationwide coverage is available for tobacco use, alcohol drinking, raised blood pressure and overweight and obesity. Periodic National Family Health Surveys provide information on selected risk factors during 2005-16 among adults aged 15-49 years. An overall significant increase was noted in overweight and obesity while decline was noted in tobacco and alcohol use during the same period. From GATS 1 (2009-10) to 2 (2016-17) also, the prevalence of tobacco consumption decreased in India. Conclusion: India has a much delayed response on NCD risk factors surveillance and information of the same are sporadic and incomplete. In order to increase information comprehensiveness, standard WHO NCD risk factors questions must be incorporated in the ongoing surveys. India should also plan for cost and time effective NCD surveillance system.