Body mass index in young adulthood and mid-life cardiovascular risk factors in South Asian American adults: The MASALA study

Indian Heart J. 2023 Mar-Apr;75(2):153-155. doi: 10.1016/j.ihj.2023.02.005. Epub 2023 Feb 28.

Abstract

The association of self-reported BMI at age 20, at age 40, the highest BMI within the past 3 years, and current BMI with current mid-life cardiovascular risk factors and coronary artery calcium (CAC) was evaluated among 1148 South Asian American participants (mean age 57 years) in the MASALA study. A 1 kg/m2 higher BMI at age 20 was associated with higher odds of hypertension (aOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.12), pre-diabetes/diabetes (aOR 1.05 [1.01-1.09]), and prevalent CAC (aOR 1.06 [1.02-1.11]) in mid-life. Associations were similar for all BMI measures. Weight across young adulthood is associated with mid-life cardiovascular health in South Asian American adults.

Keywords: Body mass index; Cardiovascular disease risk; South asian.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asia, Southern / ethnology
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Calcinosis / epidemiology
  • Calcinosis / ethnology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Coronary Artery Disease / epidemiology
  • Coronary Artery Disease / ethnology
  • Heart Disease Risk Factors*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • South Asian People* / statistics & numerical data
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult