The Role of Physical Activity Prescription in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Amongst South Asian Canadians

Overview

Journal Front Cardiovasc Med

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2018 Nov 30

PMID 30488037

Citations 4

Authors

Tharmegan Tharmaratnam

Mina A Iskandar

Sally Doherty

Katrina A Durzo

Swana Kopalakrishnan

Tyler Cameron Tabobondung

Prasaanthan Gopee-Ramanan

Seyon Sivagurunathan

Nirunthan Sivananthan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Unequivocal evidence suggests an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) amongst South Asian Canadians (SACs) compared to other ethnic cohorts, due to a combination of their unique cardiometabolic profile and environmental factors. This unfavorable CVD profile is characterized by an elevated risk of dyslipidemia, high apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio, hypertension, glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as increased BMI, body fat percentage, abdominal and visceral adiposity. Despite the overwhelming evidence for the effectiveness of physical activity (PA) in circumventing the onset of CVD and in the reduction of CVD risk factors, SACs are among the most physically inactive cohorts in Canada. This relates to a set of common and unique socio-cultural barriers, such as gender, beliefs and perceptions about illness, immigration, unfavorable PA environments, and their high prevalence of debilitating chronic diseases. Several strategies to improve PA participation rates in this high-risk population have been suggested, and include the implementation of culturally sensitive PA interventions, as well as clinician training in PA prescription through workshops that emphasize knowledge translation into clinical practice. Therefore, the purpose of this mini-review is to highlight and discuss: (1) the burden of heart disease in SACs (2) the cardiovascular benefits of PA for SACs; (3) factors affecting PA participation among SACs and how they can be addressed; (4) the impact of culturally sensitive PA prescription on CVD prevention; (5) barriers to culture-specific PA prescription by clinicians, and strategies to improve its use and impact.

Citing Articles

'We just don't have this in us…': Understanding factors behind low levels of physical activity in South Asian immigrants in Metro-Vancouver, Canada.

Mahmood B, Cox S, Ashe M, Nettlefold L, Deo N, Puyat J PLoS One. 2022; 17(8):e0273266.

PMID: 36007081 PMC: 9410550. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273266.

Prescription of Physical Activity by General Practitioners in Type 2 Diabetes: Practice and Barriers in French Guiana.

Dranebois S, Lalanne-Mistrih M, Nacher M, Thelusme L, Deungoue S, Demar M Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022; 12:790326.

PMID: 35082754 PMC: 8784518. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.790326.

A Critical Review on New Approaches for Chronic Disease Prevention in Brazil and Canada: From Wholistic Dietary Guidelines to Physical Activity Security.

Schwartz J, Oh P, Perotto M, Rhodes R, Firth W, Bredin S Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021; 8:730373.

PMID: 34527714 PMC: 8435680. DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.730373.

Exploring Knowledge and Perspectives of South Asian Children and Their Parents Regarding Healthy Cardiovascular Behaviors: A Qualitative Analysis.

Fowokan A, Vincent K, Punthakee Z, Waddell C, Rosin M, Sran N Glob Pediatr Health. 2020; 7:2333794X20924505.

PMID: 32656300 PMC: 7331759. DOI: 10.1177/2333794X20924505.

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