The Growing Demand for Genomic Testing in Health Check Packages

Health check-ups in India are undergoing a significant change, and genomic testing is being added to better assess disease risk. Genomic tests analyse variations in a person's DNA to provide information on predispositions to certain illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Healthcare providers can then customise preventative steps and early detection.

As awareness of how genes impact health risks grows, demand is increasing for genomic screening as part of routine check-ups rather than just diagnosing an existing condition. Leading hospitals and wellness companies have also begun providing genomic profiles along with standard tests like blood work. It also aids better diagnosis and treatment decisions for diseases with established gene-drug interactions.

Causes Driving the Demand for Genomic Testing

Genomic testing involves analysing a person's DNA to help determine their likelihood of developing certain diseases. Some common examples include genetic testing for cancers, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and more. The increasing prevalence of genomic testing can be attributed to several key factors:

Rise of Lifestyle Diseases

Lifestyle disorders, including cardiovascular disease and cancer, are rising in India, causing death and illness. Sedentary lifestyles, obesogenic environments, and rapid urbanisation have exacerbated non-communicable diseases.

Genetic testing can identify variants that make individuals more susceptible to obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or vitamin deficiencies. This allows doctors to create personalised diet, exercise, and medication plans to prevent or delay the onset of associated health conditions.

Growing Middle-Class Accessing Healthcare

As the middle class in India has expanded to encompass more than 31% of the population, many Indians opt for annual health examinations and request more individualised medical attention. Presently, this demographic is assuming a more proactive stance toward health management by progressively employing wellness packages, genetic testing, and routine health checkups.

Government Investments in Genomic Medicine

As a national priority, the Indian government has initiated several widespread genomic medicine initiatives that are anticipated to revolutionise healthcare provision. Initiated in 2020, the Genome India Project aims to establish the capability to sequence 10,000 genomes. This will empower India to undertake population-scale genomic research to enhance the diagnosis of genetic diseases, forecast disease risk, and evaluate drug response.

Increasing Health Awareness

India has seen significant growth in health literacy due to higher education, public health initiatives, and more proactive health behaviours. There is rising consumer demand for personalised disease risk and outcome data, consistent with the interest in genomic testing.

Pharmacogenomics further enables precision by screening how a person's DNA impacts drug responses.

Advancing Genomic Research in India

Incredible genomics and bioinformatics laboratories in India are discovering the genes that cause heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Putting together more solid guidelines can help Indians start using genomic medicine in the real world.

Benefits of Genomic Testing

Genomic testing offers a variety of potential health and wellness benefits, fueling its expanding incorporation into routine health assessments. The common benefits of genomic testing are:

• Enables personalized disease prevention plans based on individual genetic predispositions
• It helps choose the best drug treatments according to a person's unique gene profile.
• Allows early detection of hereditary disease risks to prompt increased screening.
• Matches cancer patients to targeted therapies based on tumor DNA profiles.
• Reveals carrier status for genetic conditions to inform family planning.
• Motivates positive lifestyle changes upon seeing elevated genetic health risks.
• Uncovers undiagnosed rare diseases causing prior unexplained symptoms.
• Reduces the likelihood or severity of adverse drug reactions via pharmacogenomic data.
• Advances research into genomic health factors through shared anonymous data.

Risk Factor

Besides assisting diagnoses, critical scenarios that warrant scrutinising genomic issues through appropriate NGS panels, array tests, or whole genome checks include:

• Family history of hereditary cancers (breast, ovarian, colon, etc.)
• Recurrent pregnancy loss or infant mortality
• Congenital disorders or intellectual disabilities
• Adverse reactions or ineffective drug response
• Multiple cardiovascular risk factors
• Early-onset chronic conditions (diabetes, neurodegenerative, etc.) without clear etiology

When to See A Doctor

The following are specific points one should consider for genomic testing and visit a doctor for advice:

• Strong family history of hereditary conditions like cancers, cardiac disease, Alzheimer's, etc. Comprehensive gene panels can help assess risks based on family health histories.
• Concerning findings in previous genetic tests may require follow-up testing some years later as new multi-gene panels emerge. Doctors can guide optimal retesting timelines.
• Adverse medication reactions or unusual intolerances warrant pharmacogenomic testing to tailor dosing and drug selection to personal genetics.
• Reproductive genetic screening before/during pregnancy empowers couples to understand the risks of inheritable disorders like SMA, CF, etc. Genetic counsellors suggest suitable tests based on health histories and ethnicities.
• Genomic analysis can uncover overlooked genetic disorders causing unexplained symptoms that are not resolving via standard diagnosis/treatment. Poor treatment response also merits deeper DNA analysis.

Wrapping Up

As personalised medicine and preventive healthcare gain more attention in India, genomic testing in health packages provides immense value. Though costs are still prohibitive for some, competition and innovation are driving greater access to genomic profiling. Demand will continue rising as more people realize genomic tests aid early disease detection and lifestyle customisation. The future of healthcare involves a holistic analysis of health risks based on genetics and family history. Integrating genomic tests in standard check-ups provides the foundation for more precise and effective healthcare.

Apollo grants exclusive access to genomic insights for personalised prevention and care by utilising cutting-edge data encryption, advanced DNA sequencing panels for hereditary cancers, cardiovascular disease, pharmacogenomics, and more. Contact Apollo Diagnostics immediately to integrate genomic analysis into your upcoming health checkup.

FAQS

What can genomic tests tell me?

Genomic testing looks for gene mutations in your DNA that signal illness risk, medication response, and carrier status for inheritable diseases. Diverse tests check thousands of regions in your genome instead of a few.

Will my genomic data remain private?

Labs must encrypt genomic data and control access to prevent leaks. Before providing consent for testing, verify your provider's data protection and research-sharing policies.

Can genomic results impact my ability to get insurance?

Indian regulations prevent insurers from demanding testing or utilising genetic data to decide coverage or price. However, over time, lengthy policies might mandate more comprehensive health records.