A groundbreaking UCLA-led study reveals that Chinese American immigrants face increased cardiovascular disease risks the longer they reside in the U.S., particularly in Los Angeles compared to Chicago. This research, drawing on 18 years of data, underscores the need for tailored health care approaches to address cultural and geographic disparities.
Chinese American immigrants face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease the longer they live in the United States, and this risk varies significantly depending on their location, according to a groundbreaking study led by UCLA health researchers.
The findings, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, drew on data from the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) cohort, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Over approximately 18 years, the heart health of 746 Chinese Americans in Los Angeles and Chicago was closely monitored.
Participants living in Chicago exhibited lower mortality rates from heart disease compared to those residing in Los Angeles.
“This is the first long-term prospective study in nearly two decades to investigate the effects of immigration on the cardiovascular health among Chinese American immigrants, an often-underrepresented group in cardiovascular research,” lead author Xinjiang Cai, a cardiologist and physician-scientist at UCLA Health, said in a news release.
Cai highlighted that the geographical disparities in mortality rates underscore the inequalities affecting heart health care and outcomes.
“We were especially surprised by the geographical differences in mortality rates among this population, and the spotlight this puts on inequalities in heart health care and outcomes that often stem from cultural and language barriers, health behaviors, unique environmental risk factors and social determinants of health,” he added.
State-specific factors like demographic differences, variations in death rates and life expectancy might also influence the health outcomes of immigrants.
Traditional markers to predict cardiovascular disease did not align well with outcomes for this population.
“The more commonly used markers for cardiovascular disease, such as high-sensitive troponin levels and left ventricular ejection fraction, were found to be less predictive in this population,” Cai added.
Instead, markers like N-terminal Pro-brain Natriuretic Peptide, left ventricular mass and coronary artery calcium score were more indicative of heart-related events among Chinese American immigrants.
Despite the study’s comprehensive data, Cai pointed out limitations, noting that the MESA cohort participants, with an average age of approximately 62 and free of baseline heart disease, are likely healthier than the overall Chinese American population in the United States.
This calls for further research to capture a broader perspective.
Priscilla Hsue, chief of the division of cardiology at UCLA Health, highlighted the importance of personalized health care.
“When it comes to assessing the cardiovascular risk among Asian Americans, a one-size fits all approach doesn’t work,” she said in the news release. “For this reason, studies that can phenotype risk and underlying mechanisms for specific groups within the Asian-American population are critical to solving disparities in cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality.”
This study not only sheds light on the unique health challenges faced by Chinese American immigrants but also stresses the need for targeted, culturally sensitive health care practices to bridge the gap in cardiovascular health outcomes across different populations.