Heterogeneity in Cardiovascular Health among Asian American Subgroups: Risk Factors, Outcomes, Treatment and Prevention, and Future Research Opportunities

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart and cerebrovascular diseases, represents a leading cause of death in Asian Americans as a group. Much of our knowledge of CVD in Asian Americans has been based on studies that have either grouped Asian Americans together, or examined one Asian American subgroup alone. However, research that has compared Asian American subgroups, suggest marked heterogeneity in the prevalence of CVD and its risk factors among various subgroups (e.g., higher prevalence of coronary artery disease for Asian Indians and Filipinos). In this chapter, we will present our current understanding of CVD in Asian Americans with respect to: disease definitions, prevalence and epidemiology, cultural and structural barriers to health care, lifestyle and prevention, and future directions for research.