Stress from such outside factors as being unemployed or not having a college degree increase the chances of heart disease among Asian Americans, according to a University of Washington study of nearly 6400 Asians including a roughly equal number of Filipinos, Asian Indians and Chinese.
The research found that these social factors put Asians at a 14% higher odds of high blood pressure, a 17% higher odds of unhealthy sleep, and a 24% higher odds of type 2 diabetes.
“Despite the perception that Asian Americans may be less impacted by social determinants of health compared to other racial and ethnic groups, our findings indicate unfavorable social factors are associated with higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among Asian American groups,” said the researchers. The risk factors ranged from economic instability, negative social interactions, psychological stress, food insecurity, a lack of education and unequal access to health care.
See “These factors increase risks of heart disease in Asians” by Randall on the Asian American News website (April 3, 2024)
