The prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and its risk factors in first-generation Asian Indian immigrants to the United States of America (US) were compared with those of the native Caucasian population. A total of 1688 Asian Indian physicians and their family members (1131 men and 557 women, age >20 years) completed a questionnaire and in 580 subjects serum lipoproteins were determined. The age-adjusted prevalence of myocardial infarction and/or angina was approximately three times more in Asian Indian men compared to the Framingham Offspring Study (7.2 % versus 2.5%; p<0.0001) but was similar in women (0.3% versus 1%; p=0.64). Asian Indians had higher prevalence of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM; 7.6% versus 1%; p<0.0001) but markedly lower prevalence of cigarette smoking (1.3% versus 27%; p<0.0001) and obesity (4.2% versus 22%; p<0.0001). Hypertension was less prevalent in Asian Indian men (14.2% versus 19.1%, p<0.008) but similar in women (11.3% versus 11.4%). The prevalence of elevated total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels was similar in men [17% versus 23.4% (p=0.24) and 13.7% versus 22.3% (p=0.22), respectively] but lower in women [15% versus 26.1% (p=0.018) and 14.3% versus 19.6% (p=0.047) respectively]. The mean levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were less in younger (30-39 years) Asian Indian men (mean: 0.98 versus 1.18 mmol/l; p<0.001) and middle-aged (30-59 years) women (mean: 1.24 versus 1.45 mmol/l; p<0.001). The prevalence of hypertriglyceridaemia was similar in men (18.5% versus 11.3%), but higher in Asian Indian women (8.3% versus 4.1%, p=0.02). To conclude, immigrant Asian Indian men to the US have high prevalence of CHD, NIDDM, low HDL cholesterol levels and hypertriglyceridaemia. All these have "insulin resistance" as a common pathogenetic mechanism and seem to be the most important risk factors.

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Lipids regression analysis India human sex difference middle aged comparative study Aged ethnology lipid United States Humans male female risk factor Risk Factors questionnaire prevalence Article blood Questionnaires adult migration age Sex Factors Age Factors Emigration and Immigration Coronary Disease coronary artery disease