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Diabetes and cardiovascular disease among asian indians in the united states

  • Mini-Symposium On Diabetes Original Articles
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Abstract

CONTEXT: Studies, mostly from outside the United States, have found high prevalence of diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), and hypertension among Asian Indians, despite low rates of associated risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, CHD, hypertension, and other associated risk factors among Asian Indians in the United States compared to non-Hispanic whites.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND SUBJECTS: Cross-sectional study using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. We analyzed 87,846 non-Hispanic whites and 555 Asian Indians.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Whether a subject reported having diabetes, CHD, or hypertension.

RESULTS: Asian Indians had lower average body mass indices (BMIs) than non-Hispanic whites and lower rates of tobacco use, but were less physically active. In multivariate analysis controlling for age and BMI, Asian Indians had significantly higher odds of borderline or overt diabetes (adjusted OR [AOR], 2.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.72 to 4.23). Multivariate analysis also showed that Asian Indians had nonsignificantly lower odds ratios for CHD (AOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.25 to 1.35) and significantly lower odds of reporting hypertension (AOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.82) compared to non-Hispanic whites.

CONCLUSION: Asian Indians in the United States have higher odds of being diabetic despite lower rates of obesity. Unlike studies on Asian Indians in India and the United Kingdom, we found no evidence of an elevated risk of CHD or hypertension. We need more reliable national data on Asian Indians to understand their particular health behaviors and cardiovascular risks. Research and preventive efforts should focus on reducing diabetes among Asian Indians.

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Correspondence to Sarita A. Mohanty MD, MPH.

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We the authors certify that we have no affiliations with or financial involvement (e.g., employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, royalties) with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or in financial competition with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. In addition, all financial and material support for this research and work are clearly identified in the manuscript. Dr. Mohanty had full access to all the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.

See editorials Chin, p. 448; and Vinicor, p. 483.

Dr. Mohanty’s work was supported by an Institutional Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) research award, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, grant 5 D08 HP 50018. The funding source had no involvement in the study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

The authors have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the whole content. S.A. Mohanty conceived of the study, supervised all aspects of the study, completed the analyses, and led in the writing of the manuscript. Drs. S. Woolhandler and D.U. Himmelstein helped in the conception of the study, interpretation of the findings, and writing of the manuscript. Dr. D.H. Bor helped to conceptualize ideas, interpret findings, and edit the manuscript. All authors have made substantial contributions to the intellectual content of the paper, including the conception and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, and drafting of the manuscript.

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Mohanty, S.A., Woolhandler, S., Himmelstein, D.U. et al. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease among asian indians in the united states. J GEN INTERN MED 20, 474–478 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.40294.x

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