health 𧬠South Asians missing from global health data π§¬
A significant portion of South Asians is absent from global health databases used for medical research. This lack of diversity is evident in studies like the NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalogue, where over 86% of participants were of European ancestry between 2005 and 2025. This data gap means tools built on European data are less accurate for South Asians, who face higher rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Researchers stress that local evidence is essential because South Asia is incredibly diverse, not a single group. Therefore, validating and recalibrating risk models using South Asian data is crucial for equitable healthcare. π©Ί