Current Science
Volume 97, Issue 3, 2009, Pages 378-384

The impact of migration on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors among people of Indian origin (Article)

Jeemon P.* , Neogi S. , Bhatnagar D. , Cruickshank K.J. , Prabhakaran D.
  • a Initiative for Cardiovascular Health Research in the Developing Countries, New Delhi 110 016, India
  • b Initiative for Cardiovascular Health Research in the Developing Countries, New Delhi 110 016, India
  • c Diabetes and Metabolism, The Royal Oldham Hospital, University of Manchester Cardiovascular Research Group, Diabetes Centre, Oldham OL1 2JH, United Kingdom
  • d Cardiovascular Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Manchester Royal Infirmary Division of Cardiovascular and Endocrine Sciences, Core Technology Facility, University of Manchester, 3rd Floor, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom
  • e Initiative for Cardiovascular Health Research in the Developing Countries, New Delhi 110 016, India

Abstract

The overall burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to grow in both developed and developing countries. The expected rate of increase in CVD in developing countries in the next two decades is likely to be almost twice that in the developed countries. Furthermore, Indians tend to have premature CVD, at least a decade or so earlier than their counterparts in the developed countries and also have higher case fatality rate. It is becoming increasingly apparent that rapid transition of lifestyle in the era of globalization can have a significant impact on health, in particular the incidence of CVD risk factors and related events. Studying the impact of migration on CVD and its risk factors is helpful in understanding the lifestyle induced or ethnic differences in the relative incidence of CVD in different populations. In this article we systematically review migration-related studies on the Indian population with respect to CVD and discuss the relative importance of these findings in the prevention of CVD in this population. The review summarizes that the different rates of CVD in various ethnic groups represent a complex interaction of classical and novel cardiovascular risk factors in varying environments. However, a significant proportion of the excess risk of CVD in Indians of South Asian origin is explained by environmental, nutritional and lifestyle factors. It is important to validate the threshold levels for all conventional risk factors in this population and future work is necessary to understand the precise environmental mechanisms and possible genetic interactions underlying the increased CVD risk among South Asians.

Author Keywords

Migration risk factors Ethnic groups Lifestyle cardiovascular disease

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-71949130153&partnerID=40&md5=7cb8b8d2264c4be407eb1376485454ba
ISSN: 00113891
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English