Abstract
Background Asian-Indians are the third largest group among Asians in the US. Between 1990 and 2000, the Asian-Indian population in California doubled in size from 93,557 to 200,633. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates are substantially higher in Asian-Indians compared to other racial/ethnic groups. The purpose of this study is to evaluate lifestyle CVD risk factor differences between Asian-Indian and white, non-Hispanic (WNH) men. Subjects are participants in the California Men’s Health Study (CMHS), a multiethnic cohort of 84,170 men 45–69 years of age enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Southern and Northern California at baseline (2001–02).
Methods A mailed survey collected demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Descriptive analyses and multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for demographics, were performed to evaluate the survey data.
Results The CMHS cohort is comprised of WNH (62%, 51,909/84,170), 14% (11,407/84,170) Hispanic, 8% (6,298/84,170) African-American, 11% (8,705/84,170) Asian/Pacific Islander, and 5% (6,733/84,170) other/mixed men. Of the 8,705 Asian/Pacific Islanders, 602 identified themselves as Asian-Indian. Although most Asian-Indian men were first generation immigrants (94%, 568/602), over three-fourths had resided in the US for 16+ years. Age distribution did not differ between Asian-Indian and WNH men. Asian-Indians were more likely than WNHs to live in a low income household (22%, 134/602 vs. 15%, 7,963/51,901), yet had considerably higher educational attainment (77% v 53%, with college degree). Asian-Indian men more often reported a healthy BMI (18.5–24.9) [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.83 (95% CI 1.54–2.18)] and more often consumed <30% calories from fat [AOR = 2.57 (95% CI 2.13–3.11)]. There were no differences for fruit and vegetable consumption; however, Asian-Indian men were more likely to have never smoked and to abstain from alcohol. While Asian-Indian men were less likely to report moderate/vigorous physical activity > 3.5 hours/week [AOR = 0.54 (95% CI 0.46–0.64)], there was little difference in sedentary activity time spent outside of work.
Conclusion Despite a higher prevalence of CVD among Asian Indian men, in the CMHS we found Asian-Indian men had fewer CVD-related lifestyle risk factors. These results suggest risk factors other than lifestyle behaviors may be major contributors to CVD in the Asian Indian population.
