Northwestern University Study Reveals South Asians Face Elevated Diabetes and Heart Disease Risk Despite Healthier Lifestyles

A comprehensive decade-long study conducted by Northwestern University has revealed a concerning health paradox affecting South Asian populations. Despite maintaining healthier dietary habits and lifestyle choices, individuals of South Asian descent face significantly higher risks of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease by age 45.

Critical Health Window Identified

The research, led by Dr Namratha Kandula from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, followed nearly 2,700 adults aged 45 to 55 over ten years. The study drew data from two established cohort studies: MASALA (Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America) and MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).

Dr Kandula described the 40s as a "critical window" where cardiovascular risk becomes elevated but disease remains preventable. "We've now identified a critical window in the 40s when risk is already high, but disease is still preventable," she stated.

Alarming Statistical Findings

The study's findings present stark disparities across ethnic groups. By age 45, nearly one in three South Asian men had developed prediabetes, with rates significantly higher than those observed in white, black, Hispanic, and Chinese populations. South Asian women demonstrated similar patterns, with almost one in five developing prediabetes in their mid-40s, approximately double the rate of other ethnic groups.

By age 55, South Asian men and women were at least twice as likely as white adults to develop diabetes. Hypertension also appeared earlier and more frequently within this population.

Early Life Factors Under Investigation

Researchers suggest that the elevated risk may originate much earlier in life, potentially during childhood and early adulthood. Many participants in the MASALA study are immigrants whose early life experiences, including nutrition quality, stress exposure, and physical activity patterns, may differ significantly from their current lifestyle choices.

"Early life nutrition, environment, stressors and activity patterns in childhood may increase cardiometabolic risks that show up by age 45," Dr Kandula explained.

Physiological Differences Noted

Previous MASALA data indicates that South Asians tend to carry more visceral fat around internal organs, even when maintaining normal Body Mass Index measurements. This deep abdominal fat, often present from childhood, correlates strongly with insulin resistance and elevated cardiovascular disease risk.

Global Health Implications

The study's implications extend beyond individual health concerns. South Asians constitute approximately 25 percent of the global population but account for nearly 60 percent of heart disease patients worldwide. In the United States, where South Asians represent one of the fastest-growing demographic groups, they develop atherosclerosis nearly a decade earlier than the general population.

Clinical Recommendations

The research strongly advocates for earlier and more proactive screening protocols for South Asian adults. "Clinicians should start looking for high blood sugar, high blood pressure and other risk-enhancing factors, such as lipoprotein A, before midlife," Dr Kandula recommended.

Dr Ambrish Mithal from Max Healthcare noted that despite improved dietary patterns by age 45, clinical risk factors remain persistently elevated. "One hypothesis is that younger South Asians may have poorer lifestyles, because of which these risk factors develop earlier and are already established by 45," he observed.

The study emphasizes that even individuals maintaining healthy habits should consult healthcare providers about early screening, as timely detection and treatment can effectively prevent cardiovascular disease progression.