The Purpose of This Systematic Review Is to Locate, Appraise, and Examine the Best Available Evidence for Identification of the Risk Factors of Heart Disease in the Asian Indian (AI) Population

Monday, 27 July 2015: 10:00 AM

Juvy M. Acosta, DNP, RN, ANP-BC
Memorial, Virtua, Mt Holly, NJ

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review is to locate, appraise, and examine the best available evidence for identification of the risk factors of heart disease in the Asian Indian (AI) population.  

Methods: Systematic Review

Results:

Asian Indians have the highest risk of heart disease in the world, with heart attacks commonly occurring as young as 40 years of age. According to the World Health Organization, one in four cardiac patients in this world would be an AI by 2020.  A three-step literature search for studies in English language from 2000 to 2011 was conducted utilizing (a) a primary search of Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Joanna Briggs registered titles, (b) a secondary search of non-indexed databases, and (c) a search of the grey literature. This review included studies with AI participants who traced their origin to the country of India and who were 18 years or older. Only quantitative evidence that investigated the risk factors for heart disease among AI was evaluated.  Each of the eligible articles was reviewed by two independent reviewers. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were assessed for methodological quality using the JBI standardized critical appraisal tools. Data extraction was undertaken using the standardized data extraction tool from JBI-MAStARI.  There were 18 descriptive studies met the inclusion criteria representing 39, 945 AI participants included in the final review. 

Conclusion:  Based on the analysis of the pooled data the review identified the modifiable, non-modifiable and emerging risk factors for CAD in AI population. Historically AI has not been perceived as having the traditional risk factors for CAD. But this systematic review actually shows that they are in fact exposed to those very same risk factors. Traditional risk factors may not be the most important etiologies for CAD in AI and genetics along with emerging risk factors might be a contributing factor for high rates in this population.