South Asian adults in the U.S. report doing many of the right things for heart health, yet they show significantly higher rates of prediabetes, diabetes and hypertension than white and Chinese adults, and higher than or roughly similar rates to Black and Hispanic patients, according to a new study led by Northwestern Medicine.
In a large long-term study of 2,700 adults, scientists found that participants with heritage from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka had some of the highest prevalence of risk factors for heart disease when compared to other population groups, despite reporting healthier diets, lower alcohol use and comparable exercise habits.
The mismatch between healthier lifestyle behaviors and clinical risk was surprising. This paradox tells us we’re missing something…