South Asians' Early Heart Disease Risk

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, led by Dr. Namratha Kandula of Northwestern University, reveals that South Asian adults in the United States develop risk factors for heart disease significantly earlier than other ethnic groups, often by their mid-40s. This increased risk, including higher rates of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure, occurs despite generally healthier lifestyle choices. The research combined data from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), involving 2,700 adults. The findings suggest a need for earlier screening and culturally tailored prevention strategies for individuals of South Asian descent, whose ancestry traces to nations like Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka. The United States===National Institutes of Health funded the studies.