Culturally tailored health camps and cardiovascular risk among South Asian immigrants

Culturally tailored health camps and cardiovascular risk among South Asian immigrants

South Asians have a high prevalence and early age of onset of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assess the potential of a culturally responsive intervention, health camps, to identify and inform U.S. South Asian community members at risk for CVD. We held four cultura...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health care for the poor and underserved Vol. 23; no. 2; p. 615
Main Authors: Gany, Francesca, Levy, Andrew, Basu, Piali, Misra, Shantum, Silberstein, Jacob, Bari, Sehrish, Gill, Pavan, Keller, Norma, Changrani, Jyotsna, Leng, Jennifer C
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 01-05-2012
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Asia - ethnology
Cardiovascular Diseases - ethnology
Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology
Cultural Competency
Emigrants and Immigrants
Female
Health Education - methods
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Risk Reduction Behavior
United States
Young Adult
Asia
United States
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Summary:South Asians have a high prevalence and early age of onset of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assess the potential of a culturally responsive intervention, health camps, to identify and inform U.S. South Asian community members at risk for CVD. We held four culturally and linguistically tailored health camps between October 2009 and November 2010 to educate participants about and screen for CVD risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Data analysis was conducted in December 2010. Nearly 300 (289) South Asians registered at the health camps: 20% reported a previous diagnosis of diabetes, 34% elevated blood pressure, and 22% hypercholesterolemia. Most (240) participants had their blood glucose measured; 13% had values >200 mg/dl. Most (265) had their blood pressure measured; 32% had elevated values. Over half (57%) of LDLs were <100 mg/dl. Health camps are a potentially important component in addressing increased CVD risk in this vulnerable population.
ISSN:1548-6869
DOI:10.1353/hpu.2012.0070