Panaji: A new research initiative, the Goa Longitudinal Cohort Study, 2025, launched in the state, is looking to gain better insight into the root causes and patterns of non-communicable diseases (NCD). Spearheaded by the Tata Memorial Hospital’s centre for cancer epidemiology (CCE), in collaboration with Goa’s department of health services, the study will systematically track how these diseases develop and progress over a long-term period.
It will follow a cohort of one lakh adults between the ages of 25 and 70 years over a 10-year period, and will assess the impact of early intervention measures. It aims to uncover the key modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for NCDs. The diverse study population will include individuals from rural and urban settings, with particular focus on villages like Valpoi, Canacona, and Sanquelim.
“The study’s primary goal is to identify risk factors for non-communicable diseases and explore how early interventions, such as lifestyle changes, can reduce these risks. By examining the influence of factors like diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption, researchers hope to develop targeted strategies for prevention,” said health minister Vishwajit Rane.
It will involve extensive data collection of medical histories, lifestyle assessments, genetic analysis, and environmental exposure surveys where key metrics like blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels will be tracked over time to observe trends in health outcomes. The study is important for Goa as non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, and Goa’s health statistics indicate a rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory disorders, and cancer.
“These are often linked to lifestyle and environmental factors and have led to a significant health burden requiring urgent intervention and research-driven policy making,” Rane said. Despite several studies on disease prevalence, the specific causes and risk factors that contribute to NCDs in Goa remain inadequately documented, he added.
