Infectious, parasitic diseases accounted for 24% deaths in Delhi in 2023: Report

Infectious and parasitic diseases were the leading cause of death, accounting for 23.45 per cent of deaths, according to the report from the Delhi Government released on Sunday.

The Medical Certification of Cause of Deaths Report, 2023, issued by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics of the Delhi Government, said 21,000 people died due to infectious and parasitic diseases out of total 88,628 institutional deaths.

Infectious and parasitic diseases, including cholera, diarrhoea, tuberculosis and hepatitis B, were the leading causes of death, followed by symptoms and abnormal findings without a clear diagnosis (20.15 per cent) and diseases of the circulatory system (17.73 per cent). Other significant causes included respiratory diseases, neoplasms (primarily cancer), digestive diseases and certain conditions originating in the perinatal period.

In 2023, Delhi recorded 1,32,391 deaths, showing a slight increase from 1,28,106 in 2022. Among these, 81,500 were males, 50,868 were females and 23 cases were of “other” category. An average of 363 people died each day in 2023, with over 66 per cent of these deaths occurring in medical institutions.

Meanwhile, the year saw 7,439 infant deaths. The maximum number of institutional deaths occurred among infants due to slow foetal growth, foetal malnutrition and immaturity (1,517), followed by pneumonia (1,373), septicaemia (1,109), and hypoxia, birth asphyxia and other respiratory conditions (704).

The age-wise data showed that individuals aged 45-64 years accounted for the highest proportion of medically certified deaths (32.28 per cent), followed closely by those over 65 years (29.44 per cent). In contrast, young adults aged 25-44 years accounted for around 19 per cent of certified deaths.

Among infants, six primary causes, including slow foetal growth, pneumonia and septicemia, were linked to over 76 per cent deaths. Infectious and parasitic diseases also significantly impacted younger age groups, particularly children aged 1-14, with respiratory issues among the next highest causes of death.

The year saw 7,439 infant deaths

• The report said 21,000 people died due to infectious and parasitic diseases out of total 88,628 institutional deaths.
• The number of institutional deaths due to cancer and related diseases were recorded at 6,054 during 2023, which was almost 12 per cent more than 5,409 registered in 2022.
• In 2023, Delhi recorded 1,32,391 deaths — a slight increase from 1,28,106 in 2022. 2023 saw 7,439 infant deaths.