Hypertension and other cardiac risk factors among Asian Indians

The pattern of cardiovascular disease among (Asian) Indians appears to be changing rapidly. Although we do not have large epidemiological studies, clinical observations and mortality data indicate that, in the last three decades, there has been an escalating incidence of hypertension and coronary artery disease in Indians. Clearly, the incidence of hypertension among the urban population is steadily increasing. Whether this is due to heightened awareness and expanding accessibility to health care providers is not known. An alarming number of deaths due to premature coronary disease is being reported. Compared to their Western counterparts, Indians experience the first coronary event at an earlier age. Studies performed in the UK, US, Trinidad, and South Africa have confirmed a high rate of cardiovascular disease among expatriate Indians. Although the precise cause is not known, hypertension and altered lipoprotein metabolism may be playing a participatory role in the genesis of cardiovascular disease.