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

Neha K. Reddy, Vaidehi Kaushal, Alka M. Kanaya, Namratha R. Kandula, Unjali P. Gujral, Nilay S. Shah*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)14-18
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican heart journal
Volume244
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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