Background: South Asians represent about 3% of the Canadian population and have a higher burden of certain cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with white people. The objective of this study was to review the literature to compare cardiovascular risk factors and disease management practices among adult South Asian and white Canadians.
Methods:We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases from their inception through Feb. 17, 2014 and the reference lists of the selected articles. English-language studies of interventions and observational studies of biological mechanisms underlying CVD risk in South Asians conducted in Canada were eligible for inclusion. Where appropriate, we used random-effects meta-analyses to integrate results comparing the CVD risk profiles of South Asian and white Canadians.
Results:We included 50 articles (n = 5 805 313 individuals) in this review. Compared with white Canadians, South Asian Canadians had a higher prevalence and incidence of CVD, an increased prevalence of diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 2.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.81 to 2.80, p < 0.001) and hypertension (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.22, p = 0.02), lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (mean difference -0.19 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.25 to -0.13 mmol/L, p < 0.001) and a higher percentage of body fat (men: absolute mean difference 3.23%, 95% CI 0.83% to 5.62%, p = 0.008; women: absolute mean difference 4.09%, 95% CI 3.46% to 4.72%, p < 0.001). South Asian people are also more sedentary, consume higher levels of carbohydrates and are less likely to smoke tobacco (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.60, p < 0.001]) than white Canadians. No differences in access to diagnostic tests, outcomes following cardiovascular surgery or use of cardiac rehabilitation programs were apparent.Interpretation: Compared with white people, South Asian people living in Canada have a higher prevalence and incidence of CVD and possess a unique cardiovascular risk profile.
Abstract
E184CMAJ OPEN, 2(3)
Research
CMAJ OPEN
Methods
Search strategy and selectionIn consultation with an information specialist, we developed search terms for MEDLINE, Embase, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and the Cochrane Registry databases to identify human studies reporting associations among South Asian ethnicity, CVD risk factors and CVD. The initial search (conducted May 21, 2013) captured articles from database inception through May 2013; at the request of the CMAJ Open editors, the search was updated through to Feb. 17, 2014 (Appendix 1, available online at www.cmajopen.ca/content/2/3/E183/suppl/DC1). Three investigators (A.R., R.dS. and S.S.A.) each screened a third of the titles and abstracts of the studies identified in the electronic search to arrive at a list of articles for full-text review. The same 3 reviewers assessed the eligibility of these fulltext articles. Disagreements were resolved by discussion and consensus. Studies that were not p...