In a country where youth is traditionally seen as a safeguard against heart disease, a groundbreaking new study is shattering that illusion — and sending a clear warning to Pakistan’s healthcare system.
Early findings from the PAK-SEHAT study (Pakistan Study of prEmature coronary atHerosclerosis in young AdulTs) have revealed shockingly high rates of obesity and cholesterol imbalances among young Pakistani men and women — conditions typically associated with much older populations in the West. These risk factors are driving a surge in premature coronary atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque builds up in the arteries, increasing the likelihood of heart attacks in individuals as young as their 30s, 20s — and in some cases, even their teens.
The “Mini Framingham” of Pakistan
Led by renowned interventional cardiologist Prof. Bashir Hanif, the PAK-SEHAT study is Pakistan’s first longitudinal cardiovascular cohort study of its kind. Dubbed as a “Mini Framingham Heart Study” (a nod to the legendary U.S. heart research project), it is a 10-year initiative backed by Getz Pharma with nearly Rs1.4 billion ($5 million) in funding.
The study tracks over 2,000 asymptomatic adults between the ages of 35 to 65 across all regions of Pakistan. Participants are undergoing in-depth medical assessments to identify early risk factors for cardiovascular disease — from lifestyle and diet to genetic predisposition and environmental exposures.
Troubling Trends Among the Young
Presenting the initial findings at the Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine (PSIM) Conference in Karachi, Prof. Hanif shared some disturbing statistics:
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70% of participants are obese, with the figure climbing to 80% among women
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More than 70% have elevated LDL ("bad") cholesterol
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50% have dangerously low levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol
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42% have undiagnosed hypertension
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23% have undiagnosed diabetes
“These levels of risk in such young people are simply unprecedented,” Prof. Hanif stated. “We are now seeing heart attacks in patients in their late 30s and 40s — and alarmingly, even as young as 19 or 20 years old. This is not happening anywhere else in the world. It’s a uniquely Pakistani crisis.”
Looking Beyond Traditional Risk Factors
The PAK-SEHAT study isn’t just focused on the usual culprits like smoking and poor diet. Researchers are also examining air and water quality, pollution, regional diets, and even conducting coronary CT angiography, inflammatory marker blood profiling, and genome sequencing to better understand the unique genetic risks faced by South Asians.
One major takeaway? Western cardiovascular models — which are calibrated for people over 40 — don’t apply to the Pakistani population. “People here are dying well before that age. We need our own risk scores, our own data, and our own solutions,” Prof. Hanif emphasized.
A New Era for Pakistani Healthcare
Dr. Khurram Hussein, Managing Director of Getz Pharma, said the study marks a major shift toward patient-centered care, local research, and evidence-based medicine. “We can’t rely on protocols designed for the West. The risk profile here is completely different,” he said at the Connect Conclave, a health conference held alongside PSIM.
Former Punjab Health Minister and senior physician Prof. Javed Akram also applauded the initiative, commending Getz Pharma and CEO Khalid Mehmood for investing in scientific research that’s both local and impactful. “No significant progress in healthcare is possible without industry support,” he noted, referencing the company’s past contributions like the landmark PROTECT Study during COVID-19.
The Road Ahead
According to Dr. Wajiha Javed, project director and co-investigator of the study, Getz Pharma is committed to investing in locally-driven research that directly benefits Pakistani patients. “We’re done spending on pointless travel and unproductive society events. The focus now is on solutions — and science.”
The early results from PAK-SEHAT are a wake-up call. But they also represent hope: the chance to intervene early, build healthier habits, and shape a healthcare future grounded in Pakistan’s reality — not someone else’s.
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