A recent study highlights significant differences in heart disease and stroke risks among South Asians and East Asians, underscoring the need for tailored health care approaches. Conducted by the American Heart Association, the study examined 3,400 South and East Asians in Great Britain, revealing that South Asians, including those from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, are more likely to develop high blood pressure earlier than their East Asian counterparts, primarily Chinese individuals.
Lead study author So Mi Jemma Cho, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of disaggregating data among Asian subgroups, noting that the commonly used “Asian” category often masks critical health disparities. “High blood pressure and its management vary widely across racial and ethnic populations,” Cho stated, highlighting the necessity for more nuanced data collection.
The study’s findings suggest that South Asians in the United States may face a higher risk of dying from blocked arteries compared to Whites, a disparity that calls for more personalized care plans. Senior study author Pradeep Natarajan, M.D., M.M.Sc., from Harvard Medical School, stressed the need for tailored blood pressure screenings and treatment timing for different Asian subpopulations to advance personalized care and prevention strategies.
These insights are crucial as they reveal the hidden health disparities within the broader Asian category, advocating for more specific and effective health interventions for historically understudied communities.
See: “Stroke and heart disease risks among Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese differ greatly” (February 21, 2025)
