Culturally tailored health camps and cardiovascular risk among South Asian immigrants.
BACKGROUND
South Asians have a high prevalence and early age of onset of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assess the potential of a culturally responsive intervention, health camps, to identify and inform U.S. South Asian community members at risk for CVD.


METHODS
We held four culturally and linguistically tailored health camps between October 2009 and November 2010 to educate participants about and screen for CVD risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Data analysis was conducted in December 2010.


RESULTS
Nearly 300 (289) South Asians registered at the health camps: 20% reported a previous diagnosis of diabetes, 34% elevated blood pressure, and 22% hypercholesterolemia. Most (240) participants had their blood glucose measured; 13% had values >200 mg/dl. Most (265) had their blood pressure measured; 32% had elevated values. Over half (57%) of LDLs were <100 mg/dl.


CONCLUSIONS
Health camps are a potentially important component in addressing increased CVD risk in this vulnerable population.
Center for Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Francesca
F
Gany
Andrew
A
Levy
Piali
P
Basu
Shantum
S
Misra
Jacob
J
Silberstein
Sehrish
S
Bari
Pavan
P
Gill
Norma
N
Keller
Jyotsna
J
Changrani
Jennifer C
JC
Leng
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult