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New study sheds light on elevated risk of heart disease in South Asians
The study found that South Asians are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
The study was conducted on 60 South Asian and 60 white European adults with similar health profiles / X/@SubodhVermaMD
A new study co-led by Dr. Subodh Verma, a cardiovascular surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital and professor at the University of Toronto, shed light on the elevated risk of heart disease among South Asians.
As per the findings of the study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, South Asians with heart disease or diabetes exhibited fewer vascular regenerative and reparative cells compared to their white European counterparts.
The lack of repair and regeneration capacity contributes to the elevated risk of heart issues in South Asians. Additionally, studies have found that South Asians are also more susceptible to developing Type 2 diabetes, a primary driver of heart disease.
Conducted between January 2022 and January 2023, the study enrolled 60 South Asian and 60 white European adults with heart disease, diabetes, and at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor.
Through blood samples and a test developed by the research team, the study underscored that South Asians, despite sharing the same cardiovascular risk profile, possessed fewer key vascular regenerative and reparative cells than their white European counterparts. This deficiency contributed to a higher number of cardiometabolic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, among them.
“These data provide a novel and previously unrecognized link to explain why South Asians develop early and aggressive heart disease,” Verma, co-lead of the study.
David Hess, a professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, who co-led the study, also emphasized the impact of diabetes coupled with a weakened ability to repair blood vessels, creating a “perfect storm” for South Asians.
The study not only identified a crucial aspect of South Asians’ cardiovascular risk but also laid the foundation for personalized interventions. The research will enable doctors to tailor strategies for South Asian patients, potentially intervening earlier with specific medications to reverse impaired vessel repair and regeneration.
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