A recent study published in the journal Hypertension has uncovered significant differences in blood pressure development and cardiovascular disease risks among South and East Asian adults living in the United Kingdom. Researchers found that South Asian adults may experience elevated blood pressure approximately nine years earlier than their East Asian counterparts.
The analysis of health records from over 3,400 UK Biobank participants revealed that South Asian men are projected to reach high blood pressure levels (130 mmHg or higher) at age 36, compared to age 46 for East Asian men. Similarly, for women, the gap is seven years, with South Asian women reaching this threshold at age 45 versus age 52 for East Asian women.
These differences have potentially serious implications for cardiovascular health. South Asian adults were found to have nearly four times the lifetime incidence of heart disease caused by blocked arteries compared to East Asian adults. Moreover, for East Asian adults, each standard deviation increase in midlife systolic blood pressure was linked to a 2.5 times higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and a nearly fourfold greater stroke risk.
Lead study author Dr. So Mi Jemma Cho emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that the broad 'Asian' category often obscures critical health differences between subpopulations. The research underscores the necessity of personalized healthcare strategies that account for specific ethnic group characteristics.
The study also highlighted additional health disparities, such as higher body mass index and earlier initiation of blood pressure medications among South Asian adults. These findings call for more nuanced approaches to cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention across different Asian ethnic groups.
While the research provides valuable insights, researchers caution that the results may not be universally applicable outside the UK context, due to potential variations in healthcare systems, living environments, and cultural adaptation.
