Abstract
ObjectiveUK Indian adults have higher risks of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes than Indian and UK European adults. With growing evidence that these diseases originate in early life, we compared cardiometabolic risk markers in Indian, UK Indian and white European children.MethodsComparisons were based on the Mysore Parthenon Birth Cohort Study (MPBCS), India and the Child Heart Health Study in England (CHASE), which studied 9–10 year-old children (538 Indian, 483 UK Indian, 1375 white European) using similar methods. Analyses adjusted for study differences in age and sex.ResultsCompared with Mysore Indians, UK Indians had markedly higher BMI (% difference 21%, 95%CI 18 to 24%), skinfold thickness (% difference 34%, 95%CI 26 to 42%), LDL-cholesterol (mean difference 0.48, 95%CI 0.38 to 0.57 mmol/L), systolic BP (mean difference 10.3, 95% CI 8.9 to 11.8 mmHg) and fasting insulin (% difference 145%, 95%CI 124 to 168%). These differences (similar in both sexes and little affected by adiposity adjustment) were larger than those between UK Indians and white Europeans. Compared with white Europeans, UK Indians had higher skinfold thickness (% difference 6.0%, 95%CI 1.5 to 10.7%), fasting insulin (% difference 31%, 95%CI 22 to 40%), triglyceride (% difference 13%, 95%CI 8 to 18%) and LDL-cholesterol (mean difference 0.12 mmol/L, 95%CI 0.04 to 0.19 mmol/L).ConclusionsUK Indian children have an adverse cardiometabolic risk profile, especially compared to Indian children. These differences, not simply reflecting greater adiposity, emphasize the need for prevention strategies starting in childhood or earlier.
Highlights
People of Indian origin migrating to the UK have experienced rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) which are markedly higher than those of the white European host population [1,2] and those of their country of origin [3], though risks of CHD and T2D in India are rising rapidly [4]
Comparisons of cardiometabolic risk factors between Indian adult migrants and the white European host population have shown that adiposity and insulin resistance are higher among UK Indians [1,5], assessment of the full extent of migrationrelated risk factor changes requires comparisons between Indians living in India and in the UK or other Western diaspora locations [6]
We have compared cardiometabolic risk factors among 9–10 year-old Indian children examined in comparable recent surveys in India and the UK; data on UK white European children have been included for reference
Summary
People of Indian origin migrating to the UK have experienced rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) which are markedly higher than those of the white European host population [1,2] and those of their country of origin [3], though risks of CHD and T2D in India are rising rapidly [4]. Comparisons of cardiometabolic risk factors between Indian adult migrants and the white European host population have shown that adiposity and insulin resistance are higher among UK Indians [1,5], assessment of the full extent of migrationrelated risk factor changes requires comparisons between Indians living in India and in the UK or other Western diaspora locations [6]. Such comparisons, few in number, have observed marked differences in LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure as well as adiposity and insulin resistance [6,7]. We have compared cardiometabolic risk factors among 9–10 year-old Indian children examined in comparable recent surveys in India and the UK; data on UK white European children have been included for reference
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