Subgroup differences in psychosocial factors relating to coronary heart disease in the UK South Asian population.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the differences in psychosocial risk factors related to coronary heart disease (CHD) between South Asian subgroups in the UK. South Asian people suffer significantly higher rates of CHD than other ethnic groups, but vulnerability varies between South Asian subgroups, in terms of both CHD rates and risk profiles. Psychosocial factors may contribute to the excess CHD propensity that is observed; however, subgroup heterogeneity in psychosocial disadvantage has not previously been systematically explored.


METHODS
With a cross-sectional design, 1065 healthy South Asian and 818 white men and women from West London, UK, completed psychosocial questionnaires. Psychosocial profiles were compared between South Asian religious groups and the white sample, using analyses of covariance and post hoc tests.


RESULTS
Of the South Asian sample, 50.5% was Sikh, 28.0% was Hindu, and 15.8% was Muslim. Muslim participants were more socioeconomically deprived and experienced higher levels of chronic stress, including financial strain, low social cohesion, and racial discrimination, compared with other South Asian religious groups. In terms of health behaviors, Muslim men smoked more than Sikhs and Hindus, and Muslims also reported lower alcohol consumption and were less physically active than other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found that Muslims were exposed to more psychosocial and behavioral adversity than Sikhs and Hindus, and highlights the importance of investigating subgroup heterogeneity in South Asian CHD risk.
Williams
Emily D
ED
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK. emily.williams@ucl.ac.uk
Nazroo
James Y
JY
Kooner
Jaspal S
JS
Steptoe
Andrew
A
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D018596:Hinduism / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000208:ethnology