South Asian Cardio-Metabolic Program
Specialized heart care for people of South Asian origin
Take Control of Your Heart Health
If your family roots are in South Asia, you may have unique challenges when it comes to your heart and vascular health. Compared to the general public, South Asians have an increased risk of cardio-metabolic disease.
The South Asian Cardio-Metabolic Program at Lahey Clinic is here to help. Offering screening, surveillance, education and more, we make it possible to take charge of your health and your future.
What Is Cardio-Metabolic Disease?
Cardiometabolic diseases are conditions that affect both your heart health and how your body processes energy.
These conditions include heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke and kidney disease. All can be debilitating and create serious health challenges. Things like obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are often contributing factors.
When you’re of South Asian descent, you have an increased risk of cardio-metabolic disorders. For example, on average, South Asians develop coronary artery disease 10 years earlier than the general population. And their risk of dying from heart disease is higher than that of other groups. Stroke and chronic kidney disease present unique challenges for South Asians, as well.
More About the South Asian Cardio-Metabolic Program
Through our program, we evaluate and care for South Asians who:
- Are currently being treated for a heart condition.
- Develop cardiovascular symptoms, such as:
- Chest pain or tightness.
- Irregular heartbeats (palpitations).
- Leg swelling.
- Lightheadedness or dizziness.
- Shortness of breath.
- Have a family history of heart disease, heart attack, stroke or diabetes.
- Have risk factors for heart disease, such as:
- Diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol.
- Overweight.
People of South Asian descent include those whose family roots may be traced to:
- Afghanistan.
- Bangladesh.
- Bhutan.
- India.
- Maldives.
- Nepal.
- Pakistan.
- Sri Lanka.
Specific services we offer through the program include:
- Risk evaluation.
- Screening tests for cardio-metabolic disorders, including advanced blood tests to evaluate cholesterol and other blood markers and heart calcium scans.
- Prevention education.
- Lifestyle counseling.
- Surveillance to detect cardio-metabolic disorders early.
We provide care in a culturally sensitive manner and strive to serve you in a way that makes you most comfortable.
Individualized Risk Assessment and Personalized Care
Doctors often use risk calculators to assess people’s risk for heart disease. But these calculators frequently underestimate the risk for South Asians.
For example, measuring low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” levels is often a key part of risk assessment. But many people of South Asian origin have heart attacks and strokes even with normal LDL.
Our program emphasizes the importance of accounting for your background. We use more in-depth blood testing than what most people get and heart calcium scans to accurately assess your risk.
We also take into account differences in average blood sugar levels and kidney function among South Asians. As a result, you get an individualized risk assessment. We tailor your screening, surveillance, prevention and management plans based on your results.
Improving Care Through Research
Why South Asians are at increased risk for cardio-metabolic disorders isn’t clear. Historically, researchers investigating these disorders haven’t included large numbers of South Asians in their work.
Our program provides a unique opportunity to study cardio-metabolic conditions in the South Asian population. By partnering with those we care for, we hope to generate high-quality scientific evidence that will improve care for all South Asians.
Among our research projects are novel biomarkers and genomic testing. As our patient, you may benefit from these and other projects.
Because of your unique risk factors and needs, a wide range of specialists are here to serve you. Among them are experts in:
- Heart care, including those who specialize in:
- Electrophysiology.
- Heart failure.
- Heart imaging.
- Interventional cardiology.
- Cardiac surgery.
- Diabetes and endocrinology.
- Kidney care.
- Neurology.
- Thoracic surgery.
Our team works together to help you get the best possible care.
Co-Directors:
- Sarju Ganatra, MD, FACC (Cardiology)
- Sourbha Dani, MD, FACC (Cardiology)
Multidisciplinary Team Members:
- Julie Grassi, PA, MS (Cardiology)
- Jagriti Upadhyay, MD (Endocrinology/Diabetes specialist)
- Prem Shekhar, MD, MBA (Cardiothoracic Surgery)
- Ghulam Chaudhry, MD, FACC, FHRS (Electrophysiology)
- Sachin Shah, MD (Heart Failure)
- Gautam Gadey, MD (Interventional Cardiology)
- Arjun Majithia, MD (Interventional Cardiology)
- Siddharth Sehgal, MD (Neurology/Stroke Specialist)
- Abinav Tiwary, MD (Nephrology)
- Nidhi Sharma, MD (PCP, Arlington)
- Vandan Panchal, MD (PCP, Burlington)
