Abstract C27: Lifestyle and cancer screening behaviors among Asian Indians compared to BRFSS rates in Texas
Authors: Advani Shailesh , Advani Pragati , Gor Beverly , Dorai Vaithianathan K. , Kabad Kanchan , Pande Mala 
Published: May 2016

Background: Asian Indians are a rapidly growing population in the US. Little is known about their dietary and lifestyle behaviors and their impact on chronic disease and cancer. The association of poor diet, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, excessive weight, and lack of physical activity are well documented as risk factors for development of various cancers. In addition, cancer screening is an equally important aspect of cancer prevention. The Centers for Disease Control annually conducts the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey to monitor these factors among the US population. We compared these factors among Asian Indians in Houston with Whites, African Americans and Hispanics who were surveyed in the Texas BRFSS.

Methods: The Indian American Cancer Network (IACAN) in partnership with the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center conducted the South Asian Health Needs Assessment study (SAHNA) to understand the health status of Asian Indians in the Greater Houston area from August 2013 to September 2014. A total of 1525 Asian Indians completed a health survey. Responses on the lifestyle and cancer risk factors questions were compared for the SAHNA participants with those of Whites, Hispanics and Blacks in the Texas 2013 BRFSS.

Results: Using BMI&gt;=25 to define overweight/obesity 63% of Whites, 73% of Hispanics and 73% of Blacks were overweight/obese as compared to 49% of Asian Indians. Smoking status was defined as being someone who has smoked &gt;=100 cigarettes in their lifetime. About 45% of whites, 31% of Hispanics and 33% of Blacks met this criterion, while 7% of Asian Indians were in this category. Alcohol intake was defined as consumption of any alcohol drink in the past month. About 56% of whites, 43% of Hispanics and 44% of Blacks reported this level of consumption, as compared to 40% of Asian Indians. Recommended physical activity was defined as &gt;150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. 54% of whites, 64% Hispanics and 61% of African Americans and 46% of Asian Indians were found to have inadequate physical activity (&lt;150 minutes of moderate exercise per week). Furthermore, 42% of Asian Indians were sedentary, and did not participate in any physical activity as compared to 27% whites, 36% of Hispanics and 30% of Blacks. CDC recommends consumption of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. A total of 86% of Whites, 85% Hispanics, 87% AA and 88% of Asian Indians did not meet this recommendation.

Similarly we compared cancer screening behaviors between these groups. For women&gt;=40 years of age, 70% of Whites, 63% Hispanics, 76% AA and 86% Asian Indians reported ever having a mammogram. For women&gt;=18 years of age, 76% Whites, 72% Hispanics, 85% African Americans and 88% of Asian Indians had a pap test in the past 3 years. For males&gt;=40 years, 50% of Whites, 25% of Hispanics, 48% of Blacks and 63% of Asian Indians reported ever having a PSA or DRE test for prostate cancer screening. Among all participants&gt;=50 years of age, 13% of whites, 10% of Hispanics, 20% of Blacks and 23% of Asian Indians underwent a fecal occult blood test (FOBT), whereas 70% of Whites, 45% of Hispanics, 67% of African Americans and 45% of Asian Indians underwent colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening.

Conclusion: This study helps us to assess health behaviors of Asian Indians in Houston, relative to other racial and ethnic groups in Texas. Although Asian Indians compared favorably for most lifestyle factors and cancer screening rates, there is still need for improvement in controlling weight, increasing physical activity and adhering to recommended cancer screening practices.

Citation Format: Shailesh Advani, Pragati Advani, Beverly Gor, Vaithianathan K. Dorai, Kanchan Kabad, Mala Pande. Lifestyle and cancer screening behaviors among Asian Indians compared to BRFSS rates in Texas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr C27.