South Asians, Filipinos and Vietnamese are more prone to die from heart disease and stroke than other Asian subgroups, suggests new research.
It is already a known fact that Asian Americans are more likely to die from stroke than whites, according to the study published online March 20 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
But results from the study showed that the subgroups had varying results.
"Usually researchers combine Asian subgroups in studies, masking what might be important health differences," said study author Dr. Latha Palaniappan, a professor of medicine at Stanford University in California.
"Looking at overall death rates might not reveal that some groups are dying prematurely from heart disease and stroke," she said in a Journal news release.
"A striking finding was that years of life lost due to stroke in women were greater for all of the Asian subgroups than … whites. This tells us that stroke is a very important contributor to premature death, especially in Asian women," Palaniappan explained.
The researchers also found that among Asian Americans, the average age of death from heart disease was younger among the Asian Indian subgroup. They lost an average of 17 years of life to heart disease, according to HealthDay News.
The most years of life lost to stroke were among Vietnamese (17 years) and Filipinos (16 years), the findings showed.
"One of the benefits of the study is that we've identified these differences among Asian subgroups. Now we can create culturally tailored and personalized preventive programs and guidelines for each group based on its unique risks," Palaniappan said.
"Looking at overall death rates might not reveal that some groups are dying prematurely from heart disease and stroke," she said in a Journal news release.
"A striking finding was that years of life lost due to stroke in women were greater for all of the Asian subgroups than … whites. This tells us that stroke is a very important contributor to premature death, especially in Asian women," Palaniappan explained.
The researchers also found that among Asian Americans, the average age of death from heart disease was younger among the Asian Indian subgroup. They lost an average of 17 years of life to heart disease, according to HealthDay News.
The most years of life lost to stroke were among Vietnamese (17 years) and Filipinos (16 years), the findings showed.
"One of the benefits of the study is that we've identified these differences among Asian subgroups. Now we can create culturally tailored and personalized preventive programs and guidelines for each group based on its unique risks," Palaniappan said.
This is the value of having disaggregated data. Not all subgroups fit under one mass category. The differences -- at least in health results -- between Japanese, Filipinos, Vietnamese, South Asians and others, are real.
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