Cardiovascular risk factor profiles in North and South Indian and Pakistani Americans: The MASALA Study

• Authors: Unjali Gujral, Emory University; Neha K Reddy, Northwestern University; Vaidehi Kauso, Emory University; Alka M Kanaya, University of California San Francisco; Namratha R Kandula, Northwestern University Feinberg; Nilay S Shah, Northwestern University
• Journal Title: AMERICAN HEART JOURNAL
• Volume: Volume 244
• Publisher: MOSBY-ELSEVIER | 2022-02-01, Pages 14-18
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2021.10.115
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems; Cardiovascular System & Cardiology; DISEASES; ASIANS

Abstract

South Asians in the United States have disproportionately high burden of cardiovascular disease compared to other race/ethnic groups but are a heterogenous population, so we evaluated differences in prevalence and adjusted odds of cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity between North Indian, South Indian, and Pakistani immigrants in the United States in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study. Given cultural differences among residents of Indian regions, for example in dietary patterns, we categorized Indian participants as North or South Indian. In 1,018 participants (728 North Indian [47% women], 223 South Indian [43% women], 67 Pakistani [52% women]), unadjusted diabetes and obesity prevalence was highest in Pakistani participants (33% and 48%, respectively); hypertension prevalence was highest in North Indian participants (54%); dyslipidemia prevalence was highest in South Indian and Pakistani participants (55%); and South Indian participants had a higher odds of dyslipidemia (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.27, 2.47) compared with North Indian participants in fully adjusted models. As differences in cardiovascular risk factors were observed across South Asian American subgroups, identifying the determinants of suboptimal cardiovascular health within South Asian American subgroups may help to better tailor cardiovascular disease prevention strategies.