Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in South Asians: An Epidemiological and Anthropological Study in an Urban Populace of Eastern India

TL;DR

This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of cardiometabolic risk factors in urban South Asians, highlighting the importance of integrating medical, anthropological, and socio-cultural perspectives for effective public health strategies.

Contribution

It uniquely combines epidemiological and anthropological methods, employing Elastic Net regression to model complex interactions of biological and socio-cultural factors affecting health.

Findings

High prevalence of MetS and Pre-MetS, especially among females

BMI, triglycerides, cholesterol, and waist circumference are key predictors

Urbanization and socio-cultural norms significantly influence health behaviors

Abstract

Background: This study examines cardiometabolic (CM) risk factors in an urban South Asian population, integrating medical and Anthropological perspectives to explore the effects of socio-economic, lifestyle, gender-specific factors, and cultural norms on health outcomes. Results: Analysis indicates a high prevalence of MetS and Pre-MetS, particularly among females, with significant predictors including BMI, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and waist circumference, alongside socio-genetic and lifestyle factors. Employing Elastic Net logistic regression, the researcher rigorously validated models to evaluate their predictive performance while also describing the associations and prevalence of known risk factors. The use of this method underlines the importance of combining traditional risk factors with socio-genetic, biological, economic and lifestyle variables, while Anthropological insights reveal the impact of urbanization and socio-cultural norms on health behaviors. Conclusion: The study advocates for a multidisciplinary approach in public health strategies, emphasizing the complex interplay between genetic, environmental, biological and socio-cultural influences on cardiometabolic health. This dual approach aligns with descriptive and predictive model goals. The future research should further integrate biomedical sciences with socio-cultural studies to develop culturally sensitive interventions, aiming to address the growing challenge of CM diseases in urban South Asian contexts.