Executive Summary:
· High rate of diabetes and heart disease among Indians
· Currently no information on why this is the case and what can be done
· Diabetes among Indian Americans (DIA) Survey launched in Houston
· Other areas of survey – Phoenix, Edison, and Washington DC
Benefits of participation include free and new blood tests for diabetes and heart disease (worth $1000.00). In addition, they will receive a free health and nutrition book for Indians.
· All information obtained will be strictly confidential.
· Help our community determine the rates for diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol levels, and obesity in our population for intervention purpose.
· Information will help government fund treatment and public health programs to prevent these diseases in our community.

Why study the Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases?
Asian Indians around the world have one of the highest rates of coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). When compared to Whites, Blacks, Hispanics and other Asians, the CAD rates among Asian Indians worldwide are 2-4 times higher at all ages and 5-10 times higher in those < 40 years of age. There is a lack of information on prevalence of CAD and diabetes in Asian Indians living in the USA. One thing is certain every Asian Indian knows of a person who died of heart attack at a young age. Diabetes can cause blindness, high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney failure and neurological disorder leading to amputation of limbs. It is very important to get baseline data of our community and identify intervention strategies and programs that would prevent or delay the early onset.

What does the study hope to accomplish?
The primary purpose of this study is to (1) get baseline information on the health status, behavior, and risk for diabetes and CAD among Indian American males and females, and (2) explore other co-morbid conditions in this population (e.g. blood pressure, hyperlipidimia, etc). We are especially interested examine risk factors by gender and degree of acculturization.

Where will the study be conducted?
The data collection will take place in Houston (Texas), Edison (New Jersey), Phoenix (Arizona), Washington DC, Boston (Massachusetts), and San Diego (California). Areas are selected based on the population density of Indians and co-investigators in each site.

How will participants be selected? Participants will be randomly selected from a master directory created from the telephone book, temple and local ethnic associations. Letters of invitation will be mailed and those who agree to participate will complete a telephonic interview at a time convenient to them. All information obtained will be strictly confidential. Participants can refuse to participate/answer any question.

What are the benefits of participation?
There are several benefits of participation. Respondents will get to know their risk actors and obtain information on the following: fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin, cholesterol, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c, triglyceride, homocysteine, C-reactive protein, Lipoprotein a, and LDL-C (a new test for heart disease that is not provided at doctor’s office). These tests will cost $1000.00 and the results will be provided to them free. In addition, they will receive a nutrition book for Indians (authored by Indian dieticians in the US). Trained professionals will take blood samples from participants in Dr. Raji Annaswamy’s office during allotted weekdays / weekends. Blood screening results will be used to identify undiagnosed diabetes and other risk factors associated with heart diseases. The information gathered from this project will help to determine the prevalence rates for diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol levels, and obesity in our population and will dictate the urgency of Health Care Intervention at a statewide, nationwide and worldwide level.

Need more information?
If you are interested to get more information about this project, please contact

Ranjita Misra, PhD, CHES
Assistant Professor
Health and Kinesiology Department
4243 TAMU, Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843
979-845-8726
misra@hlkn.tamu.edu

Boston MA
Dr. Raji Annaswamy (site coordinator)
Endocrine-Hypertension Division
Brigham and Women's Hospital
221 Longwood Avenue Boston MA 02115
Tel No: 617 732 5661
araji@partners.org

Dr. Om Ganda
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA &
Physician, Joslin Clinic
Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA
Tel: 617-732-2675
Om.Ganda@joslin.harvard.edu

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