Heart Disease in Bangladeshis in UK
- In the UK, the heart disease rates are highest in Bangladeshis followed by Pakistanis and Indians, which seems to follow the socioeconomic gradient.1 Bangladeshi men have 112% higher CAD (coronary artery disease) mortality and 220% higher stroke mortality than Europids in UK.2 The rates for women are not available.
- In the INTERHEART Study, those from Bangladesh had the highest prevalence of risk factors compared to people living in other South Asian countries.3
- There are differences in social and economic circumstances, and lifestyles, both between Europeans and South Asians and among the South Asian subgroups. Bangladeshis and Pakistanis were the poorest groups.1
- For most risk factors, the Bangladeshis (particularly men) fared the worst: Bangladeshi men had the highest rate of smoking (57%) the highest concentrations of triglycerides (181mg/dl) and fasting blood glucose (119mg/dl) and the lowest concentration of HDL cholesterol (37mg/dl).1
- Bangladeshis also had the highest rates diabetes (27%) compared to Pakistanis (22%) and Indians (15.2%).1
- Bangladeshis were the shortest (men 164 cm tall v 170 cm for Indians and 174 cm for Europeans). Blood pressure, however, was lowest in Bangladeshis.1
- The protective effect of physical activity in all populations is well known. South Asians have lower physical activity than Europids and Bangladeshis have lowest physical activity among South Asians.4
- A US study found more angiographically extensive CAD in Bangladeshis than non-Bangladeshis. Bangladeshis had twice the rate of 3-vessel CAD of non-Bangladeshis (53% vs. 26%) with no excess of risk factors.5 Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 38% among Bangladeshis in the US.6
Sources
1. Bhopal R, Unwin N, White M, et al. Heterogeneity of coronary heart disease risk factors in Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and European origin populations: cross sectional study. BMJ. 1999;319(7204):215-220.
2. www.heartstats.org. CHD Statistics. mortality. 2010. Accessed January 25,2011.
3. Joshi P, Islam S, Pais P, et al. Risk factors for early myocardial infarction in South Asians compared with individuals in other countries. Jama. Jan 17 2007;297(3):286-294.
4. Fischbacher CM, Hunt S, Alexander L. How physically active are South Asians in the United Kingdom? A literature review. J Public Health (Oxf). Sep 2004;26(3):250-258.
5. Silbiger JJ, Ashtiani R, Attari M, et al. Atheroscerlotic heart disease in Bangladeshi immigrants: risk factors and angiographic findings. Int J Cardiol. Jan 29 2009.
6. Rianon NJ, Rasu RS. Metabolic syndrome and its risk factors in Bangladeshi immigrant men in the USA. Journal of immigrant and minority health / Center for Minority Public Health. Oct 2010;12(5):781-787.