A new study emphasizes significant disparities in the prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations, even though these groups are frequently clustered together in research. This research was unveiled at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions in New Orleans. The findings are preliminary until they are published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The practice of aggregating these distinct populations often conceals critical differences in disease prevalence and risk factors, according to the study’s lead author, a senior research analyst at a major research division. Despite being among the fastest-growing demographics in the U.S., previous studies are limited by small sample sizes and the exclusion of significant subgroups, alongside an absence of long-term data.
Previous research has illustrated differences within AANHPI subgroups, notably showing higher cardiovascular disease mortality rates among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults compared to non-Hispanic white peers in the United States.
In the new study, known as the Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, and Asian American Cardiovascular Health Epidemiology (PANACHE), researchers examined health records from 2012 to 2022 of over 2.6 million adults within large private health systems in California and Hawaii. The participants’ average age was 49 years, and they had no prior history of cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes. More than 677,500 participants identified themselves across various AANHPI subgroups, including Chinese, Filipino, Native Hawaiian, and other members of these diverse communities.
The study compared the prevalence of common cardiovascular risk factors—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and smoking—among AANHPI adults against nearly 2 million non-Hispanic white adults. Additionally, researchers employed a risk calculator to assess participants’ 10-year risk for cardiovascular events.
The results indicated that all AANHPI subgroups faced higher rates of diabetes and high cholesterol compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Most groups, except Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults, had lower smoking rates. However, there were marked differences in risk factor prevalence among the subgroups. High blood pressure ranged significantly, with 12% prevalence in Chinese adults and 30% in Filipinos. Cholesterol levels also varied, with Chinese and Filipino adults showing the lowest and highest rates, respectively. Meanwhile, Chinese had the lowest diabetes incidence, contrasting with the 14% rate among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults.
Obesity showed even greater disparity, particularly with the Vietnamese population at 11% and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults at a high 41%, which was also linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular events.
The study suggests that regular monitoring of vital health indicators, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, could prove beneficial for early disease detection and prevention within these communities. An associate director involved in the study highlighted the potential next steps, which include conducting population-based surveys to gather information not readily available through electronic health records. This might encompass factors like immigration history, employment, discrimination experiences, diet, physical activity, and access to health resources that are unique to each subgroup.
This additional information could help bridge health disparities and foster personalized cardiovascular prevention strategies, suitable both in clinical settings and within communities.
Additionally, a preventive cardiologist stated that since cardiovascular disease remains the foremost cause of death, understanding these population-specific differences can uncover gaps in monitoring obesity, hypertension, and other risk factors. They emphasized that research should prioritize incorporating and appropriately identifying Asian Americans and their subgroups to enhance cardiovascular health outcomes universally.
