Distribution and Correlates of Incident Heart Failure Risk in South Asian Americans: The MASALA Study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• South Asian Americans face a disproportionately high burden of cardiovascular diseases.
• Understanding heart failure (HF) risk distribution is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
• The Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Study investigates HF risk in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the 10-year predicted risk distribution of incident heart failure (HF) in South Asian Americans.
• To evaluate associations between social determinants of health and clinical risk factors with HF risk.
• To identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with elevated HF risk.

Main Methods:

• Calculated 10-year predicted HF risk using the Pooled Cohort Equations to Prevent Heart Failure multivariable model in the MASALA Study cohort.
• Compared distributions of low (<1%), intermediate (1%-5%), and high (≥5%) HF risk across demographic and clinical subgroups.
• Utilized ordinal logistic regression to assess associations between demographic factors, coronary artery calcium, and predicted HF risk category.

Main Results:

• In 1159 participants, 40% had low, 37% intermediate, and 24% high 10-year predicted HF risk.
• Significant differences in HF risk distribution were observed across income, education, birthplace, diabetes, hypertension, BMI, and coronary artery calcium.
• High predicted HF risk was associated with lower income, lower education, birthplace in another South Asian country, and prevalent coronary artery calcium.

Conclusions:

• Almost two-thirds of South Asian Americans in the MASALA cohort are at intermediate or high predicted 10-year HF risk.
• HF risk varies significantly across demographic and clinical characteristics within this population.
• Findings highlight the need for tailored prevention efforts for South Asian Americans at elevated HF risk.