Key result
Indo-Asians had lower median HDL cholesterol than Caucasians (1.2 vs 1.4 mmol/L; P<0.001), driven by lower levels in Indo-Asian women compared to Caucasian women.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,010)
The lower HDL cholesterol observed in Indo-Asians compared to Caucasians appears to be driven primarily by differences among women, highlighting the importance of considering gender and specific cultural subgroups in cardiovascular risk assessment.
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Lower HDL in Indo-Asian women may refine ethnic risk stratification; cross-sectional data leave open causal links to outcomes.
BACKGROUND: In comparison with Caucasians, Indo-Asians resident in the UK have similar total cholesterol but lower HDL cholesterol (HDLC) concentrations. It is however possible that cardiovascular risk factors may vary between culturally different Indo-Asians. METHODS: We present data on 223 Indo-Asians (129 men, 94 women) and 787 Caucasians (421 men, 366 women) in whom a laboratory-based coronary heart disease (CHD) risk score calculation had been requested. RESULTS: Total cholesterol concentrations were similar in Indo-Asians and Caucasians. HDLC concentrations were higher (P < 0.001) in Caucasians [1.4 (1.3-1.4) mmol/L; median (95% confidence intervals)] than in Indo-Asians [1.2 (1.2-1.3) mmol/L]. Indo-Asian women [1.2 (1.2-1.3) mmol/L], Indo-Asian men [1.2 (1.2-1.3) mmol/L] and Caucasian men [1.2 (1.2-1.3) mmol/L] had similar HDLC concentrations but these were all lower (P < 0.001) than those in Caucasian women [1.4 (1.3-1.4) mmol/L]. CONCLUSION: We confirm low HDLC concentrations in Indo-Asians, but propose that this is solely due to low HDLC concentrations in Indo-Asian women. Since Indo-Asians in Wolverhampton are predominantly Punjabi Sikhs, we suggest that the difference between this study and previous reports may be due to heterogeneity of CHD risk factors within culturally diverse Indo-Asians.
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Gama et al. (2002) conducted a cross-sectional in Coronary heart disease risk assessment (n=1,010). Indo-Asian ethnicity vs. Caucasian ethnicity was evaluated on HDL cholesterol concentrations (p=< 0.001). Indo-Asians had lower median HDL cholesterol than Caucasians (1.2 vs 1.4 mmol/L; P<0.001), driven by lower levels in Indo-Asian women compared to Caucasian women.
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