AHA News' most-read health equity stories of 2023

By American Heart Association News

triloks/E+ via Getty Images
(triloks/E+ via Getty Images)

South Asian and Hispanic people are two fast-growing populations in the United States. Readers were interested in how cardiovascular disease impacts these groups, among other topics related to health disparities.

Here are our top 5 health equity stories published this year, ranked in order of unique page views.

1. Why are South Asians dying of heart disease? MASALA looks for answers.

MASALA, which stands for Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America, is a pioneering long-term study that's finding data and diversity in one of the country's fastest-growing populations.

2. Black people rarely hit the ski slopes, but those who love winter sports are working to change that

Most people who ski or snowboard are white, but efforts are being made to expose more diverse groups of young people to snow sports.

3. US-born Hispanic people may be more vulnerable to chronic diseases than foreign-born counterparts

Hispanic people born in the U.S. may face a higher risk of obesity, diabetes and other chronic health issues, and a Westernized diet may be at fault, new research suggests.

4. Genes, neighborhoods and a surprising finding on stroke risk

A genetic score may be able to identify higher stroke risk – but only for people living in the most privileged neighborhoods, research suggests.

5. The 'Hispanic paradox': Does a decades-old finding still hold up?

A 1986 analysis suggested that Latino people in the U.S. live longer despite socioeconomic and health care inequities. What do experts say now about the so-called Hispanic paradox?


American Heart Association News Stories

American Heart Association News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in American Heart Association News stories reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in American Heart Association scientific journals or presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the American Heart Association’s official guidance, policies or positions.

Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News.

Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Association’s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.