Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in South Asians in the US

Dinesh K. Kalra, MD, FNLA, Krishnaswami Vijayaraghavan, MD, Geeta Sikand, MA, RDN, Nihar R. Desai, MD, MPH, Parag H. Joshi, MD, MHS, Anurag Mehta, MD, Wahida Karmally, Dr.PH, RDN, Anish Vani, MD, Shoeb J. Sitafalwalla, MD, Raman Puri, MD, P. Barton Duell, MD, Alan Brown, MD, FNLA

 

Highlights:

• South Asians living in the US exhibit markedly increased atherosclerotic disease.
• South Asian ancestry is a risk enhancer in US cholesterol guidelines.
• Pathophysiology may include visceral adiposity and insulin resistance.
• Both genetic and cultural factors may play significant roles.
• We discuss education, screening, and prevention strategies to meet the challenge.