Traditional risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis in Indo Asians: the need for a reappraisal

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant health burden globally.
• Traditional risk factors (age, sex, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, lipids, family history) guide CVD risk assessment.
• Indo Asian populations in the UK exhibit approximately 50% higher CVD morbidity and mortality than Western Europeans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review traditional cardiovascular risk factors in Indo Asians.
• To summarize the relevance of novel risk factors for this demographic.
• To advocate for a comprehensive CVD risk evaluation in Indo Asians.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on cardiovascular risk factors in Indo Asians.
• Analysis of discrepancies between traditional risk scores and actual risk in Indo Asians.
• Synthesis of current evidence on traditional and novel risk factors.

Main Results:

• Traditional risk assessment tools, such as the Framingham score, consistently underestimate CVD risk in Indo Asians.
• Hypertension and metabolic syndrome are key traditional risk factors requiring greater appreciation in this population.
• Novel risk factors may offer a more accurate assessment of cardiovascular risk in Indo Asians.

Conclusions:

• Current cardiovascular risk assessment strategies are inadequate for Indo Asian populations.
• A reappraisal of traditional risk factors, alongside incorporating novel factors, is necessary for effective CVD prevention in Indo Asians.
• Improved risk stratification can lead to better clinical outcomes and reduced cardiovascular events in Indo Asian migrants.