A Natural History of Cardiometabolic Disease Among US Bhutanese: Developing the Cross-Sectional Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio Health Study to Understand Acculturation as Synergizing Socioenvironmental and Biobehavioral Risk Factors Propagating ...

Background: As of 2021, almost 45 million people in the United States were foreign-born immigrants. South Asians, including people from Bhutan, are the fastest-growing immigrant subgroup in the US. Their income and education levels are higher than the US average. Yet they have worse physical and mental health outcomes than their White US-born counterparts. These risks include type 2 diabetes and obesity. Objective: This natural history study will explore how life experiences and environmental factors affect heart health and metabolism among Bhutanese people living in the US. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 years or older who identify as Bhutanese and live in the US. Design: Participants will be recruited and screened by the Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO). They will have 1 visit to the BCCO s Arogya Clinic in Reynoldsburg. The visit will last 2 hours. Participants will take a survey; they may use either English or Nepali. They will answer questions about their background; their experiences living in the US; and how their customs and habits might have changed. They will also be asked about their experiences with discrimination; their mental health and well-being; their community; quality of life; and overall physical health. The survey will take 60 minutes. Participants will also speak with a researcher. They will be asked how they feel about providing biological samples; these may include saliva, blood, and urine. Their answers will be audio recorded.

NCT Number	NCT06991751
Lead Sponsor	National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Conditions	Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, Mental Health
Enrollment	50 participants
Start Date	2026-08-19
Primary Completion	2026-08-31 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-08-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-08-14