Prevalence of Low Cardiovascular Risk Profile Among Diverse Hispanic/Latino Adults in the United States by Age, Sex, and Level of Acculturation: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Abstract

Background Favorable levels of all readily measurable major cardiovascular disease risk factors (ie, low risk [ LR ]) are associated with lower risks of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Data are not available on LR prevalence among Hispanic/Latino adults of diverse ethnic backgrounds. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of a low cardiovascular disease risk profile among Hispanic/Latino adults in the United States and to examine cross‐sectional associations of LR with measures of acculturation. Methods and Results The multicenter, prospective, population‐based Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos examined 16 415 men and women aged 18 to 74 years at baseline (2008–2011) with diverse Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. Analyses involved 14 757 adults (mean age 41.3 years; 60.6% women). LR was defined using national guidelines for favorable levels of serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index and by not having diabetes mellitus and not currently smoking. Age‐adjusted LR prevalence was low (8.4% overall; 5.1% for men, 11.2% for women) and varied by background (4.2% in men of Mexican heritage versus 15.0% in women of Cuban heritage). Lower acculturation (assessed using proxy measures) was significantly associated with higher odds of a LR profile among women only: Age‐adjusted odds ratios of having LR were 1.64 (95% CI 1.24–2.17) for foreign‐born versus US ‐born women and 1.96 (95% CI 1.49–2.58) for women residing in the United States <10 versus ≥10 years. Conclusions Among diverse US Hispanic/Latino adults, the prevalence of a LR profile is low. Lower acculturation is associated with higher odds of a LR profile among women but not men. Comprehensive public health strategies are needed to improve the cardiovascular health of US Hispanic/Latino adults.

Decline in Cardiovascular Mortality

“…101 Although no study has evaluated trends in their collective prevalence, five of the AHA seven indices of cardiovascular health (serum cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI, diabetes and smoking) were included in the definition of low-risk for CVD in the Hispanic Community Health Study (HCHS). 102 A striking variation was found in the prevalence of low-risk status by Hispanic/Latino background (Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Central American and South American), as well as among the five individual components that constitute the risk metric in the HCHS. Additional variation in risk was also observed by age, sex, acculturation and age at immigration.…”

“That’s all Fake”: Health professionals stigma and physical healthcare of people living with Serious Mental Illness

“…Puerto Ricans are U.S. born citizens who have an estimate prevalence of up to 7.3% of SMI when living in the Caribbean archipelago [11,12], and the highest prevalence of mental illness among the Latino/a communities in the mainland U.S. [13,14]. Simultaneously, they hold one of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes among all Latino/a communities [15][16][17]. Despite this alarming public health issue, efforts to examine the psychosocial factors that foster these health inequities among this made vulnerable population have been largely absent from the scientific literature.…”

Oral microbiota reveals signs of acculturation in Mexican American women

“…Hence, it is not surprising that Mexican American women suffer from disproportionate rates of a number of prominent health conditions related to obesity and/or chronic infection, including diabetes [ 4 ], uncontrolled hypertension [ 4 ], and cancers of the uterine cervix, stomach, and liver [ 5 , 6 ]. Acculturation, the process by which immigrants adapt to a new culture through changes in beliefs and behaviors, is associated with increased rates of obesity [ 7 – 9 ], diabetes [ 10 , 11 ], and cardiovascular risk factors [ 12 , 13 ]—all of which contribute to health disparities and chronic disease burden in this population.…”