Living in the UK makes South Asians unhealthier
- Changes in lifestyle and environment increase the risks for certain diseases among South Asians in the UK
- Unfortunately, the increased risk is still not matched by increased awareness by patients or health professionals
A review in the June issue of the Journal of The Royal Society of Medicine suggests that people from South Asia may develop a greater risk of diseases (such as certain cancers) when they live in the UK. Lack of awareness of their risk may mean they are missing out on ways to prevent disease or receive early treatment. Dr Punam Mangtani, one of the authors of the review, commented
“Studies are now showing that because the disease is not expected in these groups, patients are at risk of being overlooked when it comes to screening and getting access to health information.”
South Asians are known to have a higher incidence of coronary artery disease so research has concentrated on looking at different demographics in this area and health professionals are more likely to be “on the alert” for the disease in these populations.
The UK’s South Asian population (whose families originate from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or India) is about 4% of the total population and the largest ethnic minority. South Asians generally have a lower incidence of cancer than the general population – around 68% lower in men and 48% lower in women. But cancer rates of South Asians in England, though still lower than rates in the rest of the English population, are higher than rates in the Indian Subcontinent. This is thought to be due to differences such as smoking incidence, diet and the adoption of a more sedentary lifestyle. Breast cancer is rising in South Asians and is the most common malignancy among female South Asians. Lung cancer is the most common cancer among South Asian men and its incidence is increasing. In relation to all types of cancer, the longer a migrant from South Asia has been in England, the greater their risk of developing some form of the disease.
Dr M. Justin S. Zaman and Dr Punam Mangtani, researchers at University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, argue that, although they concentrated on cancer,
“…there will be other examples of increased disease rates where, with increased time since migration, and increased life expectancy amongst ethnic minorities, disease patterns will start to resemble those of the majority population.”
Mangtani goes on, “We have known about these shifting disease patterns for over ten years but there needs to be better awareness among these communities and better access to appropriate preventative and treatment services.”
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Changing Disease Patterns in South Asians in the UK [PDF 52k]
'Changing Disease Patterns in South Asians in the UK' is published in the June issue (Vol. 100) of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
JRSM is the flagship journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. It has been published continuously since 1809. Its Editor is Dr Kamran Abbasi.
It is also available free at www.jrsm.org
Dr Punam Mangtani is available for comment
