Hypertension and cardiovascular disease in South Asia: No end in sight

South Asia is undergoing remarkable economic development, industrialization, and globalization with rapidly changing lifestyles resulting in increasing prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. It is estimated that in the year 2000, India had 41.5 million people with hypertension and the burden is projected to increase by another 5 million by the year 2025. Recent studies indicate that there is lack of awareness, underdiagnosis, and suboptimal control of elevated blood pressure. Asia is also emerging as an epicenter of diabetes. In India alone, there were approximately 23 million diabetics in the year 2000, and this burden is expected to rise to 57 million by 2025. Diabetes occurs at an early age in Indians with a lower body mass index and abdominal obesity as a striking feature. It is well documented that coronary artery disease occurs prematurely and pursues a malignant course in patients with South Asian background. Extensive information is now available about the epidemiology and risk factors of coronary disease in Asians. There is an enormous task ahead and herculean efforts are needed to prevent the epidemic.