Health, Canada (Commonwealth Union) – A recent investigation, spearheaded by researchers from Unity Health Toronto and the University of Toronto, reveals that South Asians diagnosed with heart disease or diabetes exhibit a lower count of vascular regenerative and reparative cells in comparison to their white, European counterparts.
This discovery offers insights into the heightened susceptibility of South Asians to cardiometabolic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the study suggests that the diminished vessel repair capacities observed in South Asian patients may contribute to their elevated cardiovascular risk. Subodh Verma, co-lead researcher of the study and a cardiovascular surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital, as well as a professor of surgery at the U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, underscores the significance of these findings.
“These data provide a novel and previously unrecognized link to explain why South Asians develop early and aggressive heart disease.”
Recent research indicates that individuals of South Asian descent exhibit a heightened prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and heart disease. Despite constituting approximately 25% of the global population, South Asians disproportionately contribute to over 50% of cardiovascular-related fatalities worldwide.
In a recent Canadian investigation involving over 70,000 heart disease patients, South Asian individuals were found to be younger and exhibited elevated rates of coronary artery disease in comparison to East Asian and Caucasian counterparts. Additionally, numerous studies have revealed that South Asians have a greater predisposition to developing type 2 diabetes, a principal catalyst for heart disease, when contrasted with Caucasian populations.
Type 2 diabetes and heart disease share several risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. These common denominators can contribute to the development and progression of both conditions. For instance, obesity can lead to insulin resistance, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, while also increasing the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis, a primary cause of heart disease. Similarly, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels can damage blood vessels and contribute to the formation of plaques, which can obstruct blood flow and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The present study, conducted between January 2022 and January 2023, enrolled 60 South Asian and 60 white European adults diagnosed with either heart disease or diabetes, each exhibiting at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor.
Both cohorts contributed blood samples, which underwent analysis utilizing a novel test crafted by the research team. This test assessed the prevalence of specific pivotal vascular regenerative and reparative progenitor cells within the blood samples. Researchers of the study pointed out that these cells, are integral to all individuals, function to foster the development of new blood vessels and mend existing ones, thus playing a vital role in sustaining optimal vascular health.
The investigation revealed that, notwithstanding identical cardiovascular risk profiles, South Asian subjects exhibited a diminished presence of circulating regenerative and reparative cells in comparison to their white European counterparts. Additionally, the study observed that the South Asian cohort tended to be younger and have lower body weights.
David Hess, a co-author of the study and an affiliate scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital, adjunct professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Temerty Medicine, and professor at Western University, highlighted the well-established correlation between type 2 diabetes and heightened glucose levels in the bloodstream, which inflict substantial harm upon blood vessels. Hess noted that the combination of diabetes and a compromised capacity for blood vessel repair seems to augment the risk burden among South Asians.
“Our research indicates that the South Asian participants who already have increased damage to their blood vessels due to their diabetes also have a decreased ability to repair damaged blood vessels,” explained Hess. “It’s like a perfect storm.”
The researchers emphasize that the study results represent a significant initial stride in crafting interventions and personalized strategies aimed at addressing heart disease within the South Asian community, which stands as the largest diasporic group globally.
“We hope this research can serve as a guide for clinicians to treat South Asian patients on a personalized level,” added Hess. “This could mean earlier intervention with specific medications that could potentially reverse this impairment of vessel repair and regeneration.”
Verma indicated that this exemplifies precision medicine, as it offers insight into a patient’s capacity to naturally repair their blood vessels, providing a preview of their future health.
