Image for representation.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India declined to 93 per lakh live births in 2019-21 from 97 in 2018-20, and 103 in 2017-2019, according to the latest data released by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.

The data show the highest MMR occurs in the 20-29 years age group, and the second highest MMR is seen in the 30-34 years age group.

Several States, including Madhya Pradesh (175), Assam (167), Uttar Pradesh (151), Odisha (135), Chhattisgarh (132), West Bengal (109), and Haryana (106), have high MMRs.

The Registrar General arrives at estimates on fertility and mortality using the Sample Registration System, one of the largest demographic sample surveys in the country.

The MMR in a region is a measure of the reproductive health of women in the area. One of the key indicators of maternal mortality is the MMR, defined as the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 live births during the same time period as reported.

The U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim at reducing global MMR to to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.

Many women in the reproductive age span die due to complications during and following pregnancy and childbirth, or abortion. “Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The data states that maternal deaths, being a rare event, require prohibitively large sample sizes to provide robust estimates.

The WHO notes that, every day in 2023, over 700 women died from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. “A maternal death occurred almost every 2 minutes in 2023. Between 2000 and 2023, the MMR…dropped by about 40% worldwide. Just over 90% of all maternal deaths occurred in low- and lower-middle-income countries in 2023. Care by skilled health professionals before, during and after childbirth can save the lives of women and newborns,’’ the WHO said.

Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, along with Dr Radha Venkatesan, Head of Genomics, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, addressing a press conference
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Scientists from the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai, in collaboration with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, United States, have discovered a previously unrecognised subtype of Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), and have called for wider access to genetic screening and precision treatment for diabetes patients, particularly in India.

The findings were presented to the media at a conference held at the MDRF here on Thursday.

MODY is a rare, inherited form of diabetes caused by mutations in a single gene, typically appearing in adolescents and young adults. While 13 MODY subtypes have been recognised to date, the newly identified variant challenges long-standing assumptions about the condition, doctors said.

Need for genetic testing in diabetes management

Researchers say the breakthrough not only adds to scientific understanding but also underscores the urgent need to integrate genetic testing into routine diabetes care. This, they noted, could mark a turning point in improving diagnosis, treatment, and long-term disease management for thousands of individuals living with undetected or misclassified forms of monogenic diabetes.

These defects primarily affect the pancreatic beta cells, which are responsible for insulin synthesis and secretion.
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Special Arrangement

The study, published in the journal — Diabetes —of the American Diabetes Association, identifies Loss of Function (LOF) mutations in the ABCC8 gene (it helps regulate insulin release in the pancreas by controlling a channel that responds to glucose levels, allowing insulin to be released into the bloodstream, when needed), in contrast to the Gain of Function (GOF) mutations previously linked to MODY and neonatal diabetes. The new variant results in early-life hypoglycemia, followed by later-onset diabetes — a progression previously undocumented in MODY cases.

Colin G. Nichols, lead researcher, Washington University School of Medicine, highlighted in the study that the LOF mutation impairs potassium channel function in pancreatic beta cells, disrupting insulin secretion. He said the study marked the first observed switch from congenital hyperinsulinism to diabetes in maturity-onset diabetes of the young context.

Clinical implications and treatment possibilities

Radha Venkatesan, executive scientific officer, head of molecular genomics at MDRF and co-lead author, emphasised the clinical implications of this discovery. “This variant does not respond to conventional treatments such as sulphonylureas, which are effective in other MODY forms. Understanding the underlying genetic mechanism is key to guiding appropriate therapy,” she said.

Insulin secretion is the process by which pancreatic beta cells release insulin into the bloodstream. 
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Special Arrangement

Sulfonylureas work by stimulating insulin release from the pancreas, lowering blood sugar levels
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Special Arrangement

V. Mohan, chairman of MDRF, reiterated the importance of incorporating genetic testing into standard diabetes diagnosis. “Many patients with MODY remain undiagnosed or misclassified as having type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This discovery strengthens the case for precision diagnosis and treatment,” he said.

The findings are based on clinical data and laboratory analysis of Indian patients. Researchers believe that expanding access to genetic testing could lead to earlier detection and more effective care for individuals with monogenic forms of diabetes.

Published – May 08, 2025 09:54 pm IST