CardioExchange Archive

CardioExchange, an NEJM practice community for medical professionals dedicated to improving cardiac patient care, was active from 2009 to 2015. CardioExchange fostered discussion between clinicians from across the globe.

August 23rd, 2010

AHA Science Advisory Calls for More Research on CVD in Asian-Americans

In a “Call to Action” contained in a new scientific statement, the American Heart Association says that more research is needed on cardiovascular disease in Asian-Americans.

“Available research shows that subgroups of Asian-Americans are at increased risk of complications and death from cardiovascular disease; however, Asian-Americans are often studied as a group, which masks the differences within this heterogeneous population,” according to Latha Palaniappan, chair of the AHA committee that wrote the advisory, in an AHA press release. The statement is published in Circulation.

Among the many details included in the statement, the report notes that Asian Indians and Filipinos are at increased risk for coronary disease, while Japanese- and Chinese-Americans are at lower risk for coronary disease but at higher risk for stroke.

Categories: General, Prevention
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One Response to “AHA Science Advisory Calls for More Research on CVD in Asian-Americans”

  1. Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM says:
    August 23, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    It is true that we need more information on a broader range of groups. I have been thinking that it is not just that we need more research on Asian-Americans – but more broadly on various populations around the world. We need to understand better the impact of various clinical strategies on different populations – rather than assume we know the impact from studies of very different populations. And the term Asians should probably be retired as the populations in Asia are so diverse and defy any classification as a single group, as this statement suggests. Given the epidemic of heart disease in India and China, there is a need for these particularly high population countries to launch many studies that help us understand the balance of risks and benefits for various treatments. In both countries there are diverse populations – so such studies much take that into account as well. But my main point is that this Call to Action needs to extend beyond the US boundaries.