Ethnic differences in cardiovascular risks and mortality in atherothrombotic disease: insights from the Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) registry.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ethnic-specific differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes exist worldwide among individuals with stable arterial disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: From December 1, 2003, to June 30, 2004, the prospective, observational REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) Registry enrolled 49,602 out-patients with coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and/or peripheral arterial disease from 7 predefined ethnic/racial groups: white, Hispanic, East Asian, South Asian, Other Asian, black, and Other (comprising any race distinct from those specified). The baseline demographic and risk factor profiles, medication use, and 2-year cardiovascular outcomes were assessed among these groups.

RESULTS: The prevalence of traditional atherothrombotic risk factors varied significantly among the ethnic/racial groups. The use of medical therapies to reduce risk was comparable among all groups. At 2-year follow-up, the rate of cardiovascular death was significantly higher in blacks (6.1%) compared with all other ethnic/racial groups (3.9%; P=.01). Cardiovascular death rates were significantly lower in all 3 Asian ethnic/racial groups (overall, 2.1%) compared with the other groups (4.5%; P<.001).

CONCLUSION: The REACH Registry, a large international study of individuals with atherothrombotic disease, documents the important ethnic-specific differences in cardiovascular risk factors and variations in cardiovascular mortality that currently exist worldwide.