P2-65 Impact of acculturation on coronary artery disease in the South Asian immigrants- unique population with increased risk

Abstract

Although differences in coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors between immigrants and non-immigrants have been examined previously; the effect of acculturation on CAD risk factors in immigrants has not been fully studied less well studied. This study aim is to measure the level of acculturation and its association with CAD and other factors, including Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in South Asian immigrants (SAIs). Methods: Using an epidemiologic study design, 161 SAIs between the ages of 35-65 years were randomly recruited from the States of Georgia, Kansas and Missouri. CAD markers and common carotid artery intima media thickness (CCA-IMT) were assessed. Scaled (The Suinn-Lew Asian Self- Identity Acculturation scale-SL-ASIA Scale) and non-scaled (>10 years stay in the US) methods were used to measure the acculturation status. Results: Of the total sample, 67.7% were identified to have high acculturation. On the logistic regression model, >10 years stay in the US (p = 0.0068), cholesterol level >200 mg/dl (p = 0.0002), BMI > 23 (p = 0.0044) and family history of CAD (p = 0.0078) were found to be independent predictors of CAD. Similar results were seen with T2D as an outcome. Those with high CAD had 2.11 (CI: 1.32, 6.68) odds of having total cholesterol >200 mg/dl compared to those without CAD. Conclusions: Acculturation plays a major role in predisposing immigrant population to CAD. There is need for developing tools that consider acculturation as a predictor for CAD. Further studies that test tailored strategies to improve lifestyle behaviors across diverse racial/ethnic groups are needed.