Comparison of cardiovascular risk profiles among ethnic groups using population health surveys between 1996 and 2007

Dr Arun K Garg, University of British Columbia and Fraser Health, Co- Chair Canada-India Cardiovascular Health Conference 2010

Pamela Verma, pamverma@interchange.ubc.ca, University of British Columbia and Steering Committee, Canada-India Cardiovascular Health Conference 2010

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in our country has reached epidemic proportions and we commend these authors for their thorough investigation into the role of ethnicity and risk factors.

There is no question of the findings that South Asians have higher rates of diabetes than the general population and that poor diet and exercise are the major risk factors behind this trend. What was surprising from this study was that coronary artery disease was reported to be higher in the Caucasian sub-group compared to the South Asians. We are unclear how to interpret this data in light of the growing evidence for disproportionately high rates of coronary artery disease amongst South Asians in previous reports (Bhalodkar et al, 2004; Bainey et al, 2009).

We wonder what role that the methodology, using self-reported measures, may have influenced the study results.

Nonetheless, it is clear that we require more definitive measures for the rates of coronary artery disease in the South Asian population throughout Canada.

We earnestly hope that this article sets the precedent and generates further interest to encourage the production of quality, epidemiological studies for the whole of Canada. Such work will be fundamental to policy decisions that need to be made in order to actually reduce the burden of CVD in Canada.

Bhalodkar NC et al. Comparison of levels of large and small high- density lipoprotein cholesterol in Asian Indian men compared with Caucasian men in the Framingham Offspring Study (2004). Am J Cardiology. 94 (12): 1561-1563.

Bainey KR et al. Increased burden of coronary artery disease in South -Asians living in North America. Need for an aggressive management algorithm (2009). Atherosclerosis. 204 (1): 1-10.

Conflict of Interest:

None declared