Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Asian Americans using the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Previous research has suggested a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among Asian Americans. In addition to there being limited evidence on cardiovascular risk factors in subgroups of Asian Americans, there is also very scant data to suggest whether risks differ among United States-born (US-born) and foreign-born Asian Americans and whether these risks are different when compared to US Whites. There is also limited evidence examining if acculturation-related processes and socioeconomic condition increase cardiovascular risk among Asian Americans as has been demonstrated in other immigrant populations. This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) which for the first time in 2011-2012 purposely oversampled Asian Americans. The CVD risk factors studied were diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and smoking. Length of stay in the US was used as a proxy for acculturation for immigrants while education and income were used a proxy for socioeconomic status. Descriptive statistic and logistic regression were used for the analysis. The study includes 5,560 study participants of which 794 individuals were of Asian descent. Logistic regression analysis indicated a decreased risk of obesity for Asians when compared to non-Latino Whites (OR=0.25, 95%CI=0.19, 0.34) and this association remained for US- and foreign-born Asian Americans. However, the odds of obesity increased for the foreign-born population with longer duration in the US and among those in the highest income category. The odds of dyslipidemia and smoking were lower for Asian Americans compared to non-Latino Whites, regardless of place of birth, length of stay in the US and socioeconomic position. These results suggest varying patterns of cardiovascular risk among Asian Americans indicating the need for more targeted efforts for segments of the population at greater CVD risk.