Heterogeneity of coronary heart disease risk factors in Indian,Pakistani, Bangladeshi,and European origin populations: cross sectional study |
| |
| Authors: | Raj Bhopal Nigel Unwin Martin White Julie Yallop Louise Walker K G M M Alberti Jane Harland Sheila Patel Naseer Ahmad Catherine Turner Bill Watson Dalvir Kaur Anna Kulkarni Mike Laker Anna Tavridou |
| |
| Affiliation: | aDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Medical School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, bDepartments of Medicine and Epidemiology and Public Health, Wellcome Laboratories, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, cDepartment of Medicine, Medical School, University of Newcastle, dDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical School, University of Newcastle |
| |
| Abstract: | ![]()
ObjectiveTo compare coronary risk factors and disease prevalence among Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis, and in all South Asians (these three groups together) with Europeans.DesignCross sectional survey.SettingNewcastle upon Tyne.Participants259 Indian, 305 Pakistani, 120 Bangladeshi, and 825 European men and women aged 25-74 years.ResultsThere were differences in social and economic circumstances, lifestyles, anthropometric measures and disease both between Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis and between all South Asians and Europeans. Bangladeshis and Pakistanis were the poorest groups. For most risk factors, the Bangladeshis (particularly men) fared the worst: smoking was most common (57%) in that group, and Bangladeshis had the highest concentrations of triglycerides (2.04 mmol/l) and fasting blood glucose (6.6 mmol/l) and the lowest concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.97 mmol/l). Blood pressure, however, was lowest in Bangladeshis. Bangladeshis were the shortest (men 164 cm tall v 170 cm for Indians and 174 cm for Europeans). A higher proportion of Pakistani and Bangladeshi men had diabetes (22.4% and 26.6% respectively) than Indians (15.2%). Comparisons of all South Asians with Europeans hid some important differences, but South Asians were still disadvantaged in a wide range of risk factors. Findings in women were similar.ConclusionRisk of coronary heart disease is not uniform among South Asians, and there are important differences between Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis for many coronary risk factors. The belief that, except for insulin resistance, South Asians have lower levels of coronary risk factors than Europeans is incorrect, and may have arisen from combining ethnic subgroups and examining a narrow range of factors. Key messages- South Asians have more coronary heart disease than Europeans despite apparently lower levels of risk factors
- This study shows that Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis differ in a wide range of coronary risk factors and combining their data is misleading
- Among South Asians, Indians were least and Bangladeshis most disadvantaged in a range of coronary risk factors. South Asians were disadvantaged in comparison with Europeans
- Future research and prevention strategies for coronary heart disease in South Asians should acknowledge a broad range of risk factors, the heterogeneity of these populations, linguistic and cultural needs, and environmental factors
|
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
