This longitudinal study, initiated in 2012, was designed to examine the burden of age-related chronic diseases and associated risk factors among older adults in rural India. The study was implemented in the Medchal region of Telangana, through collaboration between SHARE INDIA, MediCiti Institute of Medical Sciences, and the Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, USA. A comprehensive assessment approach was used, combining clinical evaluations, functional assessments, and laboratory investigations.

As of March 2015, three study visits were successfully completed over a two-year period. A total of 564 participants were enrolled, including 282 males and 282 females. The third year of follow-up was planned to commence in October 2015.

The study established a robust longitudinal platform for understanding chronic disease burden and functional decline among older adults in rural India. The comprehensive data collected is expected to inform strategies for preventing mobility disability and managing age-related chronic conditions.