Hereditary Factors
Ethnicity
South Asians living in the UK (Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans) have a higher premature death rate (deaths in those aged 65 or under) from coronary heart disease than the rate among the general population.
The rate is 46% higher for South Asian men and 51% higher for South Asian women. This difference in death rates between South Asians and the rest of the population is increasing because the death rate from coronary heart disease is not falling as fast among South Asians as it is in the rest of the population.
From 1971 to 1991, the mortality rate for 20-69 year olds for the whole population fell by 29% for men and 17% for women whereas in South Asians it fell by 20% for men and only 7% for women.
Premature death rates from coronary heart disease for Caribbeans and West Africans living in the UK are much lower than rates in the general population - around half of the rate found in men and two-thirds of the rate found in women.