Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America

South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepali, and Sri Lankan) individuals have high rates of cardiovascular disease that is not explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Though South Asians represent over one-quarter of the world's population, there are no longitudinal studies in this high-risk ethnic group. The investigators aim to establish a longitudinal study of South Asians at three United States centers to identify risk factors linked to subclinical atherosclerosis and incident cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study is to understand the causes of heart disease and stroke in South Asians and compare these causes to those in other United States ethnic groups.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Atherosclerosis Arterial Occlusive Diseases Arteriosclerosis Cardiovascular Diseases Coronary Artery Disease Coronary Disease Heart Diseases Myocardial Ischemia Vascular Diseases

Age range

40 year–84 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

South Asian ancestry defined by having at least 3 grandparents born in one of the following countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, or Sri Lanka
age between 40 and 84 years.

Exclusion criteria

Physician diagnosed heart attack, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), heart failure, or angina (or use of nitroglycerin)
Current atrial fibrillation
Past history of cardiovascular procedures (coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) Surgery, angioplasty, valve replacement, pacemaker or defibrillator implantation, or any surgery on the heart or arteries)
Active treatment for cancer
Life expectancy less than 5 years due to serious medical illness
Impaired cognitive ability as judged by the reviewer
Plans to move out of the study region in next 5 years
Weight greater than 300 pounds
Living in a nursing home or on a waiting list
Unable to speak/read/write English, Hindi, Urdu, or Bangla

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Coronary artery calcium prevalence in South Asians

Time frame: Baseline

Secondary outcomes

Carotid intima media thickness

Time frame: Baseline
Diabetes Prevalence

Time frame: Baseline
Change from baseline Coronary artery calcium prevalence in South Asians at 4 years

Time frame: Baseline to Year 4
Incidence of type 2 diabetes after approximately 4 years of follow-up

Time frame: Baseline to Year 4

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Other

Collaborators

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
New York University
Northwestern University

Registry information

Acronym: MASALA

Important dates

Study start: 2010
Primary completion: 2013
Study completion: 2027
First posted: Sep 22, 2010
Registry last updated: Jan 26, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Active, Not Recruiting