Ethnicity and CHD

Mortality for men fell 29% between 1971 and 1991 Mortality for Asian men fell 20% Mortality for women fell 17% between 1971 and 1991 Mortality for Asian women fell 7% 40% of Indian men drink more than once a week 0% of Bangladeshi women drink more than once a week 69% of white men drink more than once a week 46% of white women drink more than once a week

For example, rates of diabetes, which is strongly linked to heart disease, are much higher in people of South Asian origin.

Around half of Bangladeshi men smoke, though virtually no Bangladeshi women.

Bangladeshi women also consume no alcohol and alcohol consumption across all South Asian groups is generally low compared to the white population.

A BHF spokeswoman said it seems that South Asian people "have adopted the worst of British culture and abandoned the best of their own".

Poor targeting

And, she said, until now there have been problems in targeting information accurately at ethnic groups at risk.

"In terms of physical activity, for example, Asian women will need to be advised to take exercise that doesn't involve showing their body such as walking, or making segregated swimming areas available."

Further initiatives to prevent CHD, diagnose it earlier and treat it more effectively are all urgently needed to reduce the numbers of South Asians dying from heart disease in the UK

Qaim Zaidi, British Heart Foundation

BHF ethnic strategy co-ordinator, Qaim Zaidi pointed out that many cases of coronary heart disease are preventable, being related to high cholesterol levels, smoking and lack of exercise.

"Further initiatives to prevent CHD, diagnose it earlier and treat it more effectively are all urgently needed to reduce the numbers of South Asians dying from heart disease in the UK," he said.

The Health Development Agency is about to launch a report which examines the cultural values and social pressures in relation to tobacco use in different ethnic communities.

Its head of public health advice, Karen Ford, said: "We need to be able to reach these people at high risk and one of the most important things is to ask the people themselves what it is they need.

"Interventions need to be culturally appropriate so we need to look at what it is that makes people smoke or adopt a particular lifestyle."