Are Indo - origin people especially susceptible to coronary artery disease ?

There are about 13 million people spread over the globe who can trace their origins back to the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan). The term Indo-origin is used to describe them in this article. The official figure of 1.5 million Indo-origin people settled in the United Kingdom is certainly an underestimate which the 1991 census results may improve.' The majority are still first-generation immigrants who came to Britain in the 1960s and early 1970s, particularly those arriving via East Africa following political disruption. Other than London, many have settled in the Midlands, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. The first evidence that coronary heart disease (CHD) rates were increased in Indo-origin people abroad came from Singapore in 1959 and was followed by similar findings from South Africa and Trinidad.2 Analysis of national data for England and Wales during the period 1970-1972 demonstrated a standardized mortality ratio for CHD in Indo-origin men and women between the ages of 20-69 of 128 and 129, respectively (taking the rate of all men and women as being 100).5 A 40% excess of myocardial infarction was found in Indo-origin people compared to whites, in analysis of hospital admission data to National Health Service hospitals for Leicester during 1977 and 1978.6 Relative rates of myocardial infarction have been estimated in one study to be nearly four times higher in Indo-origin men compared to Northern European, with infarction occurring at younger age in Indo. . 7 origin men. Unfortunately, there are no satisfactory population-based data on incidence and prevalence ofCHD from the Indian subcontinent. What does seem apparent from the data available is that there is a marked difference in urban-rural rates of CHD. A prevalence of Minnesota coded major Q waves of 0.5% has been noted in men between the ages of 40-59 from rural Maharashtra in comparison to 3.6% for men between the ages of45-64