Study Reveals Blood Pressure Disparities Between South and East Asian Adults in UK

A new research study published in the journal Hypertension has uncovered critical insights into the distinct blood pressure patterns among South Asian and East Asian adults living in the United Kingdom, revealing substantial variations in cardiovascular disease risk and blood pressure progression.

The study, conducted by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, analyzed health records of over 3,400 adults and found that South Asian adults experience elevated blood pressure approximately nine years earlier than their East Asian counterparts, with significant implications for preventive healthcare.

Key findings demonstrate that South Asian men reach high blood pressure thresholds, defined as 130 mmHg systolic blood pressure, at age 36 compared to East Asian men at age 46. Similarly, women in these populations exhibit a seven-year difference in reaching high blood pressure milestones.

The research highlights the importance of disaggregating the broad 'Asian' demographic category, revealing nuanced cardiovascular risk factors specific to different Asian subpopulations. Researchers noted that high blood pressure in early adulthood for South Asian adults correlates with higher lifetime cardiovascular disease risks, while for East Asian adults, midlife blood pressure increases were more predictive of cardiovascular complications.

Notably, the study found that East Asian adults experienced nearly 2.5 times higher risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and a fourfold increased stroke risk with each standard deviation increase in midlife systolic blood pressure. For South Asian adults, young adulthood diastolic blood pressure was strongly linked to peripheral artery disease.

The findings underscore the critical need for tailored blood pressure screening and treatment strategies that account for ethnic and genetic variations. Lead study author So Mi Jemma Cho emphasized that understanding these population-specific differences is crucial for developing personalized prevention and management approaches.

While the study provides groundbreaking insights, researchers acknowledged limitations, noting that results may not universally apply to Asian populations outside the United Kingdom due to variations in healthcare systems, living environments, and cultural adaptations.

The research represents a significant step towards more precise, population-specific cardiovascular risk assessment and management, challenging traditional, generalized approaches to understanding blood pressure and heart disease across diverse ethnic groups.