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Vivek Murthy calls for increased South Asian heart disease research
"We've got major gaps in our knowledge, but also real gaps in understanding among clinicians who may not realize that South Asians are at increased risk,” Murthy said.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 29, May 2025
- 13:13 EDT
- 31
Vivek Murthy / Screengrab from Youtube/ Indiaspora
Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy highlighted the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among the South Asian community in the United States calling for more dedicated research, clinician awareness, and community engagement.
“Many South Asian families end up suffering the pain of illness and loss,” Murthy said, while speaking at a virtual ‘Matters of the Heart’ event organized by Indiaspora.
“When most people go to the doctor, they don’t receive education or care that takes this [heightened risk] into account,” Murthy added.
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Heart disease strikes earlier—and differently—in South Asians
Drawing on personal experience, Murthy recounted the sudden death of his uncle in his 50s due to a heart attack, despite appearing healthy. “He seemed to have habits that were similar, if not better, than many of their counterparts from other communities, yet he fell ill,” he said.
Murthy emphasized that South Asians not only face a higher risk of heart disease compared to other racial groups, but they also tend to experience these conditions at younger ages. However, because most existing data on CVD has not been drawn from South Asian populations, traditional risk scores and treatment plans often fall short.
“We've got major gaps in our knowledge, but also real gaps in understanding among clinicians who may not realize that South Asians are at increased risk,” Murthy said. He highlighted that even tools like BMI may not accurately reflect risk in South Asians, who often face higher cardiovascular risks at lower BMI thresholds than their white counterparts.
The panel also stressed the importance of early screening, lifestyle changes, and muscle development as vital preventive strategies.
Loneliness as a silent cardiac threat
Murthy, who has long advocated for the integration of mental, physical, and social health, also spoke on the overlooked role of loneliness and isolation in heart disease.
“When we experience a sense of loneliness and disconnection, that in turn actually has a real effect on both our mental and physical health,” he said. Citing data, he noted a 29 percent increase in the risk of heart disease and a 31 percent increase in stroke among people who are socially isolated. “The mortality impact is on par with the impact we see from smoking or obesity,” Murthy added.
A call for collective action
Murthy commended the South Asian Heart Center and Indiaspora for spotlighting these issues, and urged the community to push for greater policy attention. “We have to ensure our elected and appointed leaders understand that the health of South Asians must be a priority,” he said. “And we’ve got to ensure that our clinicians and communities understand this increased risk so we can take action early and save lives.”
He encouraged participants to share the conversation with friends and family. “Together we can work toward a future where South Asians have a lower risk of heart disease—and are healthy, happy, and deeply fulfilled.”
The event featured a panel discussion on cardiovascular health moderated by Pradeep Natarajan of Mass General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. The panel included Ashish Mathur, co-founder & executive director of El Camino Health and South Asian Heart Center, Latha Palaniappan, professor of cardiovascular medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Rajesh Dash, associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University & chairman and co-founder of Clint Health,and Martha Gulati, director of CVD prevention, Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
The panel examined how cardiovascular risk in South Asians is shaped by a unique convergence of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. As part of the discussion, they spotlighted the “Our Health Study,” an initiative aimed at generating more representative data to better inform prevention and treatment strategies for the South Asian community.
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