South Asians in the United States are more prone to heart attacks and diabetes compared to other ethnic groups, it was highlighted at a health congress here.
The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) has highlighted various preventive healthcare initiatives at the First World Congress on Preventive Healthcare 2015 in Houston, Texas, held a fortnight back as part of the North American Bengali Conference.
The Congress highlighted that one American dies every 40 seconds in the U.S. from cardiovascular diseases. A disproportionate burden of this risk is seen in the 3.4 million South Asians who live in the U.S.
Diabetes riskThe risks for heart attacks and cardiovascular death can be up to five times higher for South Asians when compared to other ethnic groups.
The total number of people with diabetes is projected to rise from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030.
In 2012, 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3 per cent of the population, had diabetes and 13 per cent of Asian Indians had diabetes.
While South Asians have a one in three lifetime risk for developing diabetes, total costs of diagnosed diabetes in the US in 2012 were $245 billion.
Dr. Sumita Chowdhury, chairperson for the Congress, appealed to the South Asian community to help beat cardiovascular diseases and diabetes by joining the South Asian Cardiovascular Registry.
Bringing together all stakeholders in healthcare to formulate a shared vision towards prevention of disease, the Congress was intended to create sustainable measures for prevention that can be adapted worldwide and integrated into the fabric of life. — IANS
