From analysis to action: Confronting regional IHD mortality inequities

Abstract

This correspondence paper engages critically with the study titled “Three-decade analysis of regional disparities in metabolic risk factor related ischemic heart disease mortality: Contrasting trends between South Asia and North America.” The study presents a comprehensive long-term analysis of ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality trends, revealing increasing mortality rates in South Asia despite similar metabolic risk factor burdens compared to declining rates in North America. While commendable in its scope and rigor, the study could have explored additional social determinants of health, including socioeconomic inequality, education, and healthcare accessibility, to better explain regional disparities. Furthermore, the reliance on aggregated data without stratification by gender, socioeconomic status, or urban-rural differences limits the study's applicability for developing targeted interventions. This correspondence advocates for integrating these factors into future analyses and calls for actionable, regionally tailored policy recommendations to address IHD mortality inequities. Overall, the paper underscores the need for equity-focused strategies that translate epidemiological insights into effective and contextually relevant public health interventions.