Overview
The Center for Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction in South Asia Study (CARRS) is a state-of-the-art, population-based cohort of South Asians to address existing and emerging questions related to cardio-metabolic disease.
Heart disease and diabetes are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. India and the South Asian region broadly are at the epicenter of the cardiometabolic diseases epidemic.
The CARRS Cohort follows a diverse population-based sample of more than 20,000 South Asian adults age ≥ 20 years, with ongoing follow-up for clinical cardiovascular risk factors, clinical disease, and mortality. The cohort was recruited in two waves, CARRS-1 in 2010-11 and CARRS-2 in 2015-16, and has high retention rates (70-85% annual follow-up, 88% hybrid tele/in-person attendance even during COVID, and >95% have at least one follow-up or death in 10 years of follow up) with a biorepository of 360,000 stored samples.
Cohort at a Glance
Cohort
adults > 20 years
> 20,000 South Asian
Recruitment
CARRS 1 (2010-11)
CARRS 2 (2015-16)
Study Sites
Chennai, India
Delhi, India
360,000 samples
Stored Samples
Research Areas
Aims to transform the current cardiovascular disease risk prediction model to a more personalized, precise approach that enables early detection.
Precision-CARRS
Aims to characterize midlife cognitive impairment and identify risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in participants aged 40 and above.
CARRS Brain
Aims to examine genomic and metabolomic markers linked to prediabetes, T2D phenotypes, and glycemic progression in South Asians.
CARRS Diabetes
Scientific Impact of CARRS
Findings shared through scientific and lay media
Global Dissemination
80+ Investigators Trained
Supporting the next generation of researchers
Presented at major international conferences.
100+ Abstracts
70+ Publications
Peer-reviewed research advancing cardiometabolic science
India–US Capacity Building
High impact investment in bidirectional collaboration
Training Grant Integration
Multiple institutional training grants connected to the cohort
Policy Impact
Generating evidence for policy to improve health
Contributing to large, pooled studies of health in low- and middle-income countries (e.g., Global Burden of Disease study, the International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas, NCD-RisC)
Engaging a variety of stakeholders in community and policy spheres
Informing prevention and disease management interventions to improve population health
