A new study offers promising news for communities often left out of cardiovascular research. The American Heart Association’s PREVENT equations—used to estimate a person’s risk of heart disease—accurately predicted cardiovascular events in diverse Asian and Hispanic populations, according to researchers at Sutter Health and Stanford University.
The study analyzed data from over 360,000 patients across Northern California, including large numbers of self-identified Asian and Hispanic individuals. Over an average follow-up of 8.1 years, the PREVENT models showed strong predictive accuracy for heart disease, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and heart failure across subgroups such as Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Mexican, and Puerto Rican patients.
“We led this study to uncover findings that may inform better cardiovascular healthcare for all,” said Xiaowei (Sherry) Yan, Ph.D., the study’s lead author. She noted that while the PREVENT equations had previously shown good performance across broad racial categories, this was the first time their accuracy was confirmed in disaggregated Asian and Hispanic subgroups.
The findings are especially important as the burden of heart disease continues to rise in the U.S. “The ability to more accurately estimate CVD risk in all the communities we serve is more critical now than ever,” said Dr. Powell Jose, a cardiologist at Sutter Medical Group.
While the study couldn’t fully assess all subgroups due to sample size limitations, it marks a step toward more inclusive and equitable heart care.
See “PREVENT equations accurately predict heart disease in diverse Asian and Hispanic groups” (July 10, 2025)
