Managing cardiovascular risk in minority patients

In the United States, large and growing minority populations, including African Americans, Hispanic Americans and South Asians, are highly susceptible to the development of cardiovascular disease. Compared with Americans of other ancestries, these populations exhibit a higher prevalence of a number of risk factors, such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus. The clustering of risk factors in these groups is also greater than in white populations. Despite the considerable burden imposed by cardiovascular disease, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and South Asians remain inadequately targeted for risk-reduction strategies, including screening and treatment for dyslipidemia. In addition, these groups have traditionally been underrepresented in trials of lipid-modifying therapy. Large, ongoing epidemiologic and clinical trials will add to our knowledge of cardiovascular risk in these minority populations and contribute to recommendations to improve risk management.