India's escalating heart disease burden is becoming increasingly evident, not only due to the rise in heart attacks among young individuals but also in the significant surge in cardiac medication sales. Over the past five years, sales of these medications have shot up by 50%, highlighting a concerning trend in cardiovascular health.
According to a June 2025 report by Pharmarack, which analyzed sales data from 17 prominent Indian pharmaceutical companies, cardiac medicine sales have seen a substantial increase. Sales rose from Rs 1,761 crore in June 2021 to Rs 2,645 crore by June 2025, demonstrating a consistent yearly growth rate of 10.7% in the sector. Cardiac drugs, including lipid-lowering medications, heart failure treatments, and anti-anginal drugs, are now selling more than drugs for gastrointestinal issues, infections, or diabetes.
Experts suggest several reasons for this increase, including a greater public awareness of heart diseases, the introduction of new parameters for measuring hypertension, and the growing population of senior citizens. Dr. Ajay Mahajan, Head of the Cardiology Department at KEM Hospital, noted that cardiovascular diseases are undoubtedly on the rise, but there has also been improvement in access to care and diagnostic tools. Data from the Centre suggests that 63% of deaths in India are due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) accounting for 27% of these deaths.
Dr. Suraj Nagre, Associate Professor at JJ Hospital's Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Department, pointed to the revised hypertension criteria as another factor driving the increase in prescriptions. The threshold for hypertension was previously a reading of 130-140, but medical guidelines have since changed, and readings above 120 are now considered hypertensive.
The rise in sales isn't limited to lipid-lowering medications; prescriptions for drugs meant to control unstable heart rhythm or heart failure have also increased. Senior cardiac surgeon Dr. Ramakanta Panda explained that cardiovascular medications are interrelated because they target different but connected pathways of disease. For example, anti-hypertensives lower blood pressure to reduce strain on arteries, lipid-lowering drugs reduce cholesterol to prevent arterial blockages, and anti-anginals improve blood flow to the heart muscle, relieving chest pain. These medications are often prescribed together.
Dr. Charan Lanjewar, a cardiologist at KEM Hospital, commented on the frequent reports of cardiac arrest deaths, noting that underlying factors are almost always involved. While there is a lack of data to identify a single cause in many cases, lifestyle, stress, and consumption habits play a vital role. Senior cardiologist Dr. Akshay Mehta added that the lifespan of the Indian population has increased, leading to a higher incidence of heart disease with the growing aging population. Fortunately, there are also better diagnostic tools available now.
The increasing prevalence of heart disease is also attributed to unhealthy lifestyles, lack of sleep, rising rates of diabetes and obesity, and high stress levels. Deaths from cardiovascular issues are significant, with new risks emerging for the younger population. This has expanded the market for cardiovascular drugs, with sales rising nearly 50% in five years, reaching ₹30,483 crore in the 12 months through April 2025. Consumption of lipid-lowering and heart failure therapies has almost doubled in the last five years.
