Epidemiologic studies targeting primary cardiovascular disease prevention in South Asia

• Published in: Indian heart journal Vol. 70; no. 5; pp. 721 - 730
• Main Authors: Rehman, Hasan, Samad, Zainab, Mishra, Shiva Raj, Merchant, Anwar T., Narula, Jagat P., Mishra, Sundeep, Virani, Salim S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Elsevier B.V 01.09.2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: Asia - epidemiology; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Epidemiology; Humans; India; Morbidity - trends; Pakistan; Primary prevention; Primary Prevention - methods; PURE study; Review; South Asia; Survival Rate - trends; Asia; URCDS; HTN; ASCVD; Cardiovascular disease; PURSE-HIS; Epidemiology; DHS; NIRAM; SLDCS; Pakistan; UMIC; MI; HbA1c; PURE; PURE study; HIC; MIC; PROMIS; LIC; NCD; South Asia; India; CVD; Primary prevention; hsCRP; LMIC; CARRS; FPG; MET
• ISSN: 0019-4832
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ihj.2018.01.029

South Asia has experienced a 73% increase in healthy life years lost due to ischemic heart disease between 1990 and 2010. There is a lack of quality data relating to cardiovascular risk factors and disease from this region. Several observational and prospective cohorts in South Asia have been established in recent times to evaluate the burden of cardiovascular disease and their risk factors. The Prospective Rural Urban Epidemiology (PURE) study is the largest of these studies that has provided data on social, environmental, behavioral and biologic risk factors that influence heart disease and diabetes. Some studies have also borrowed data from large datasets to provide meaningful insights. These studies have allowed a better understanding of cardiovascular disease risk factors indigenous to the South Asian population along with conventional risk factors. Culturally sensitive interventions geared towards treating risk factors identified in these studies are needed to fully realize the true potential of these epidemiologic studies.