Interventions for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction in Korean Americans: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic review was to identify and synthesize literature that described the cultural appropriateness and effectiveness of interventions aimed at cardiovascular risk reduction in Korean Americans. We searched multiple electronic databases for studies published between January 2000 and August 2017 and identified 14 eligible research reports. All reviewed studies targeted first-generation Korean American adults. Most of the reviewed studies incorporated components of surface structure, and leveraged deep structure in those interventions. Significant changes in cardiovascular health outcomes were reported in most of the reviewed studies; however, the role of cultural factors in the outcomes was rarely evaluated, and few reported long-term effects. Future research needs to consider long-term effects. Deploying cultural factors and evaluating their contributions to the target outcomes will enhance the research on cardiovascular health disparities.