Non-Communicable Diseases List | Types, Causes and Tests in Pune

Persistent fatigue, uncontrolled blood sugar, rising blood pressure, or unexpected weight changes are among the earliest warning symptoms of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — the group of chronic conditions responsible for 74% of all deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). In India, NCDs now account for over 60% of all deaths, with cities like Pune, Maharashtra, seeing rapid increases driven by sedentary lifestyles, processed food diets, and delayed diagnoses.

healthcare nt sickcare is an automated online medical laboratory in Pune offering convenient, affordable diagnostic testing for non-communicable diseases — with home sample collection and direct walk-in facility to help you screen early and act fast.

What Is a Non-Communicable Disease?

A non-communicable disease (NCD) is a chronic medical condition that is not caused by infectious agents and cannot spread from person to person — it develops from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle risk factors over months or years.

Micro-definition: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are long-duration conditions with generally slow progression, as defined by WHO. They include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and mental health disorders — collectively the leading cause of death and disability globally. The term "noncommunicable diseases" (without hyphen) is the official WHO terminology, though both spellings are widely used.

Unlike communicable diseases (infections, parasites, viruses) that spread between individuals, NCDs develop silently — often showing no symptoms until significant organ damage has already occurred. This is why early and routine laboratory screening is critical, particularly for the distinction between communicable and non-communicable diseases in clinical practice.

Complete List of Non-Communicable Diseases (13 Categories)

The WHO recognises four major NCD categories — cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes — but the full noncommunicable diseases list spans 13 clinical categories relevant to Indian and global health.

1. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) — Diseases of the heart and blood vessels: coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, and hypertension. CVDs are the single largest cause of death from NCDs, claiming over 17 million lives globally each year. Understand the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest, and learn about cardiac risk screening with a cardiac risk markers test profile.
2. Cancer — A group of diseases defined by uncontrolled cell growth and spread. Common cancers in India include oral, breast, cervical, lung, and colorectal cancers. Tobacco use is the prime risk factor in approximately 30% of cancer-related deaths. Explore cancer screening tests and the cancer test packages available in Pune.
3. Chronic Respiratory Diseases — Disorders of the airways and lung structures, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and occupational lung disease. COPD and asthma together affect an estimated 40 million Indians. See how to test for asthma with lab investigations.
4. Diabetes — India has over 77 million adults with diabetes — the second highest burden in the world. Type 2 diabetes, caused by insulin resistance, accounts for over 90% of cases and is strongly linked to obesity, inactivity, and poor diet. Chronic high blood sugar silently damages the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart. Learn how to test for diabetes with HbA1c, fasting blood sugar, and GTT. Book a diabetes risk assessment or an HbA1c test at healthcare nt sickcare.
5. Kidney Diseases — Chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney failure, and kidney stones are major NCDs in India, largely driven by uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension. CKD affects approximately 17% of Indian adults. Read our complete guide on how to assess kidney health, understand kidney function tests, and detect early damage with an ACR test. Explore our kidney disease test collection.
6. Liver Diseases — Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer are increasingly common in urban India. Fatty liver, now affecting 1 in 3 urban Indians, is a direct consequence of the metabolic syndrome. Learn how to test for liver disease and explore liver function tests (LFT).
7. Neurological Disorders — These include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. Dementia cases in India are projected to triple by 2050. Cognitive decline, memory loss, and movement problems are key warning signs. See how to test for dementia with laboratory markers.
8. Mental and Behavioural Disorders — Depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are classified as NCDs by WHO. India has the world's highest number of people with depression. Mental health conditions worsen physical NCDs and vice versa — people with depression face twice the risk of heart disease. Lab tests for mental health markers and depression screening tests can complement clinical assessment.
9. Musculoskeletal Disorders — Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Musculoskeletal conditions are the leading cause of disability in India. Learn how to test for arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis with inflammatory marker tests.
10. Digestive Diseases — Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), peptic ulcer disease, celiac disease, and diverticulosis. Gut health conditions are rising rapidly in urban India. Explore celiac disease testing and gut health tests at healthcare nt sickcare.
11. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) — WHO classifies hypertension as a standalone NCD and the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney disease. Over 220 million Indians are estimated to have hypertension, with more than half undiagnosed. It develops from obesity, high-salt diets, stress, smoking, and genetic predisposition. Learn how to test for hypertension and book hypertension test packages.
12. Eye Diseases — Cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration are the leading causes of preventable vision loss in India. Diabetic retinopathy — an NCD complication — is the fastest-growing cause of blindness. See how to test for cataracts and macular degeneration via lab-supported screening.
13. Oral Diseases — Dental caries, periodontal (gum) disease, and oral cancer are among India's most prevalent NCDs. Oral disease is directly linked to cardiovascular risk through systemic inflammation, making dental health a critical but overlooked NCD dimension.

4 Major Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases in India

Four modifiable behaviours drive the vast majority of NCD cases in India — tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and harmful alcohol consumption.

• Tobacco use — The single largest preventable cause of cancer and cardiovascular disease in India; affects 267 million adults.
• Physical inactivity — Linked to Type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and depression. Urban Pune residents have among the highest sedentary time in Maharashtra.
• Unhealthy diet — Excess salt, refined carbohydrates, trans fats, and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake drive metabolic NCDs. Learn about foods that support liver and metabolic health.
• Harmful alcohol consumption — Raises risk for liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Laboratory tests for alcohol-related organ damage are available at healthcare nt sickcare.

Non-modifiable risk factors include age (NCDs increase steeply after 40), sex, and genetic or family history. Young adults in Pune are also increasingly affected — making preventive screening from the age of 25 advisable if risk factors are present.

Is Hypertension a Non-Communicable Disease?

Yes — hypertension (persistently elevated blood pressure above 130/80 mmHg) is officially classified as a non-communicable disease by WHO. It cannot be transmitted between people and develops from genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors including obesity, high dietary sodium, physical inactivity, smoking, and chronic stress.

Is Bipolar Disorder a Non-Communicable Disease?

Yes — bipolar disorder, along with depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia, is classified as a non-communicable disease under the WHO mental and behavioural disorders category. Mental health NCDs are among the most undertreated conditions in India, with a treatment gap exceeding 80%.

The bidirectional relationship between mental and physical NCDs is well-established: depression increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease, and living with a chronic physical NCD significantly raises the risk of depression. Blood tests for thyroid function, vitamin B12, vitamin D, cortisol, and inflammatory markers are commonly part of a mental health NCD workup.

10 Common Travel-Related Communicable Diseases (vs NCDs)

Unlike the noncommunicable diseases list above, these conditions are infectious and can spread between people — but are important to distinguish for differential diagnosis, particularly for travellers returning to Pune from endemic regions.

1. Food poisoning — Caused by contaminated food or water; symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever.
2. Traveller's Diarrhoea — E. coli or norovirus from contaminated food or water.
3. Malaria — Plasmodium parasitic infection via Anopheles mosquito bite; fever, chills, headache.
4. Dengue — Aedes mosquito-borne viral disease; high fever, severe joint pain, rash.
5. Chikungunya — Mosquito-borne viral infection; fever, debilitating joint pain.
6. Yellow Fever — Viral disease from mosquito bites; jaundice, fever, haemorrhage.
7. Hepatitis A — Viral liver infection via contaminated water/food; jaundice, fatigue, nausea.
8. Typhoid — Salmonella typhi bacterial infection; sustained fever, abdominal pain, weakness.
9. Measles — Highly contagious paramyxovirus; fever, cough, Koplik spots, generalised rash.
10. Influenza — Seasonal flu virus; fever, body ache, respiratory symptoms.

How healthcare nt sickcare Helps Diagnose Non-Communicable Diseases in Pune?

healthcare nt sickcare is an automated online medical laboratory offering direct-access diagnostic testing for all major NCDs in Pune, with no prescription required.

Tests available for NCD screening and monitoring include blood tests (HbA1c, lipid profile, kidney function, liver function, thyroid, CBC, cardiac markers), urine tests (ACR, urine routine, microalbumin), and specialist panels for cancer markers, hormonal disorders, autoimmune conditions, and metabolic health. Explore how healthcare nt sickcare provides accessible lab services across Pune. Learn how to prepare for a lab test before booking.

For comprehensive NCD health packages, explore our wellness packages, health checkup packages, and the Comprehensive Health Checkup package. For a complete full body checkup in Pune, healthcare nt sickcare offers home collection across Aundh, Baner, Wakad, Kothrud, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Hadapsar, and Shivajinagar.

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Take the Next Step with healthcare nt sickcare

Early detection of non-communicable diseases is the most effective and affordable health decision you can make. Book a comprehensive NCD screening package at healthcare nt sickcare today — home collection available across Pune, results in 24–48 hours.