Americans of Arab Descent and Cardiovascular Risk
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RACE AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES (M. ALBERT, SECTION EDITOR)
Americans of Arab Descent and Cardiovascular Risk Jassim Al Suwaidi 1
Published online: 13 June 2016 # Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016
Abstract Data about cardiovascular risk factors among Americans of Arab descent (AA) is limited. This article aims to provide an up-to-date review of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases among AA living in the United States (US). We summarize the limited existing data about the prevalence of the various cardiovascular risk factors and diseases among AA and compare that to Arabs living in Arab countries. We also outline challenges of conducting cardiovascular research among AA. In conclusion there is paucity of data about cardiovascular risk factors and diseases among AA. The current study suggests the urgent need for better ways to identify AA in the US and the development of large prospective studies on determinants of cardiovascular health including potential factors such as acculturation. Keywords Cardiovascular risk factors . Cardiovascular disease . Americans of Arab descent . Diabetes mellitus . Arabs . Middle East
Introduction Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the commonest causes of mortality for both men and women in the United States (US) today [1]. Ethnic disparities among minorities in the US such
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Race and Ethnic Disparities * Jassim Al Suwaidi [email protected]; [email protected] 1
Department of Adult Cardiology, Heart Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), P.O Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
as African Americans are recognized in regard to cardiovascular risk factors and outcome [2]. CVD is highly prevalent among Arab individuals in the Middle East and its prevalence is expected to continue to rise and is more likely to occur at younger age when compared to other communities [3]. We and others [3, 4, 5••, 6, 7] have recently shown that Arabs with cardiovascular disease have higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome when compared with other ethnicities. Furthermore, we also described potentially unique Bcultural^ CVD risk factors such as waterpipe Bhookah^ smoking [8, 9] and khat (amphetamine-like) chewing [10] that have not being adequately, studied previously in the literature. Americans of Arab decent are ethnic minorities who are residents of the United States (US) and trace their ancestral, linguistic, or cultural heritage to one of 22 Arab countries [11]. Arabs may be defined as pan-ethnicity of people of various origins, religious background and historic identities, they share one or more of the followings; a linguistic, cultural, political or genealogical grounds and includes minorities such as Chaldeans, Assyrians, Berbers, Turkomans, Druze, etc. Herein we review the literature about the obstacles of conducting cardiovascular research among AA. We also summarize the available evidence about cardiovascular risk factors, CVD and mortality rates among AA.
Background of Arab Americans of Arab Descent Arab immigration
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