The population of the Indian subcontinent consists of a fine amalgamation of people from diverse tribal, cultural, religious and social backgrounds. Mortality and morbidity from a vast number of medical and surgical conditions is significant and well above compared to the developed countries. Although a large component of the human health problem is related to infection, malnutrition and other preventable causes, a significant proportion is linked to hereditary factors reflecting in the form of chromosomal, single gene and complex medical diseases. Unusual and unique Mendelian disorders are not uncommon and a number of common medical conditions, such as ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus are relatively more prevalent among those living in the developing countries of the Indian subcontinent and as well as among the migrant population groups in the western world. However, true burden of the inherited disorders among the Asian Indians is not known, and probably underestimated.
This text includes a detailed and concise account of the social and cultural diversity, medical demography, genetic epidemiology, consanguinity and common genetic disorders affecting people from the Indian subcontinent. In addition, specific issues of genetic services in various regions are addressed.