People across India are living longer but spending more time in ill health due to conditions like depressive disorder, iron-deficiency anaemia and low back pain, a major global study has revealed. According to a new analysis of 301 acute and chronic diseases, and injuries in 188 countries in 2013, migraines, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hearing loss were among the 10 leading causes of years lived with disability (YLDs) in India. Other leading causes included neck pain, diabetes and anxiety disorders. For both sexes combined, the leading causes of YLDs had remained largely the same during this time period, but they took an increased toll on health due to population growth and ageing. Significantly, for women in India, musculoskeletal disorders — which include shoulder injuries and fractures from osteoporosis —and diabetes replaced diarrheal diseases and uncorrected refractive error that causes vision problems as leading causes YLDs. According to the study published in the Lancet, between 1990 and 2013, YLDs from diabetes increased by 109 per cent, and YLDs from other musculoskeletal disorders increased by 110 per cent. On the other hand, Iron-deficiency anaemia YLDs decreased by 12 per cent. Diabetes YLDs also increased for men in India between 1990 and 2013, climbing 136 per cent. YLDs from COPD increased by 76 per cent and iron-deficiency anaemia Elides] decreased by 32 per cent. “The health of Indians is increasingly threatened by depression, back pain, and migraines,” said an expert.