Disaggregating 15-Year Trends in Cardiovascular Risk among U.S. Asian Subgroups

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Asian adults in the U.S. have a high burden of cardiovascular risk factors and disease (CVD).
• Cardiovascular health trends within specific Asian subgroups are not well-studied.
• Understanding these trends is crucial for targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine 15-year trends in CVD risk factors and CVD prevalence.
• To compare these trends across Chinese, Filipino, and Asian Indian adults in the U.S.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of the 2004-2018 National Health Interview Survey data.
• Calculated age-standardized prevalence rates for hypertension, diabetes, overweight/obesity, short sleep, alcohol use, smoking, insufficient physical activity (PA), and CVD.
• Used annual percent change to analyze 15-year trends.

Main Results:

• Overall, Asian adults showed increases in diabetes, overweight/obesity, and alcohol use from 2004-2018.
• Prevalence of smoking and insufficient PA decreased in Asian adults.
• Significant subgroup variations were observed: Chinese adults had increasing short sleep; Asian Indian and Filipino adults showed increasing overweight/obesity and alcohol use, and decreasing smoking and insufficient PA.

Conclusions:

• Cardiovascular health patterns differ significantly among U.S. Asian subgroups.
• Public health strategies for cardiovascular risk reduction should be culturally tailored.
• Customized interventions are recommended to address the specific needs of Chinese, Filipino, and Asian Indian adults.