South Asians have ethnic roots from the Indian subcontinent, and this area includes India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. “South Asian” refers to a heterogeneous population, with important differences in diet, culture, lifestyle and religions. Multiple studies of migrant South Asian populations have, however, confirmed a 3- to 5-fold increase in the risk for myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death as compared with other ethnic groups.1–3 In this month’s Journal, the study from A Ashraf and colleagues on ‘the frequency of modifiable risk factors and their outcome in patients with acute coronary syndromes’ in a major urban hospital in North West Pakistan reinforces the now extensively available data of the pattern of coronary artery disease in the South Asians. (Rawal Med J 2012;37:233-234).
Key words: Ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, South Asians
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