DoH report on ethnic health will address the particular needs of minority
health groups
South Asian men appear to be more prone to angina and heart attacks, while
Black Caribbean and Indian men have higher rates of stroke, the most detailed
study of the health of ethnic groups ever undertaken by the Government has
shown.
The Department of Health’s report into ethnic health inequalities also found
Chinese women had lower rates of ischaemic heart disease, while higher rates of
diabetes were found among men and women from minority ethnic groups, except the
Irish and Chinese.
Yvette Cooper, the Minister for Public Health, said the survey provided the
most detailed picture yet of the differences in health between different ethnic
groups.
"The Government has already announced a series of projects to tackle
ethnic health inequalities and these results will help us to address the
particular health needs of minority health groups," she said.
Among other findings, men from South Asian and Chinese communities were less
likely to be obese, while Black, Caribbean and Pakistani women were more
likely. South Asian men had higher rates of central obesity, while Chinese and
Black Caribbean men had lower rates.
Bangladeshi men were 60 per cent more likely to smoke, and smoking rates
were also higher among Black Caribbean men.
Chinese men were less likely to smoke than men in general.
Among women, South Asian and Chinese women were far less likely to smoke
than women in the general population, Irish women were more likely.
High total cholesterol was less likely among Black Caribbean, Pakistani and
Chinese men than in the general population, the DoH survey found.
Among women, all minority groups – except the Irish – were less likely to
have high total cholesterol than the general population.
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