A comprehensive study published in the journal Hypertension has uncovered critical differences in blood pressure development among South and East Asian adults living in the United Kingdom, suggesting the need for more nuanced approaches to cardiovascular health screening and treatment.
Researchers analyzed health records from over 3,400 adults and discovered that South Asian adults may experience elevated blood pressure approximately nine years earlier than their East Asian counterparts. The most pronounced disparities were observed in 18-39-year-old men and 40-64-year-old women.
The study revealed that South Asian men are projected to reach high blood pressure levels at age 36, compared to age 46 for East Asian men. Similarly, women in these populations showed a seven-year difference in reaching high blood pressure thresholds.
Significantly, the research found that for South Asian adults, high blood pressure in early adulthood was associated with higher lifetime cardiovascular disease risks. In contrast, East Asian adults showed higher cardiovascular disease risks associated with blood pressure changes in midlife.
Each standard deviation increase in midlife systolic blood pressure for East Asian adults was linked to a 2.5 times higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and nearly a fourfold increase in stroke risk. Notably, even in older age groups, high systolic blood pressure remained a strong predictor of stroke risk.
Lead study author So Mi Jemma Cho emphasized the importance of recognizing differences within the broad 'Asian' category, highlighting that high blood pressure management varies significantly across racial and ethnic populations.
The findings underscore the critical need for personalized, population-specific approaches to blood pressure screening and cardiovascular disease prevention. By recognizing these distinct trajectories, healthcare providers can develop more targeted interventions that account for the unique risk profiles of different Asian subpopulations.
