Very little is known about the health care needs of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). This is not surprising, because AAPIs comprise subgroups that represent more than 20 countries, and research of disease processes among AAPIs is usually not analyzed according to individual subgroups. The purpose of this article is to familiarize the health care professional with the nuances of metabolic syndrome in Asian Americans, utilizing a case study approach to illustrate the importance of providing culturally competent health care.
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