Cardiovascular health, lifestyle factors, and social determinants among Hispanic or Latino adults in the United States

Abstract

Background: Among Hispanic/Latino subgroups residing in the US, disparities in cardiovascular health status remain largely uncharacterized.

Methods: This national study used the National Health Interview Survey to assess the burden of cardiometabolic risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, diabetes) and cardiovascular diseases (history of heart attack, coronary heart disease, angina, stroke) across Hispanic/Latino subgroups (Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Central/South American), and the extent to which differences are related to lifestyle factors (physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumption) and/or social determinants of health (income, education, food security, and health insurance status).

Results: The weighted study population included 35,549,841 Hispanic/Latino adults (26,008 respondents). In age- and sex-adjusted models, hypertension was more common among Puerto Rican adults (OR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.12-1.60) but less common among Central/South American adults (OR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.61-0.82) compared to Mexican adults (reference group). Central/South Americans were also less likely to have obesity (OR 0.63, 95% CI: 0.57-0.70) and diabetes (OR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.42-0.61). For cardiovascular diseases, Puerto Rican adults were more likely to have angina (OR 1.69, 95% CI: 1.06-2.71), whereas Central/South Americans were less likely to have angina (OR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30-0.84), coronary heart disease (OR 0.70, 95% CI: 0.51-0.96), and heart attack (OR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.33-0.72). Moreover, Cuban adults were less likely to have hyperlipidemia (OR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.61-0.88), obesity (OR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.49-0.70), diabetes (OR 0.44. 95% CI: 0.34-0.57) and stroke (OR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32-0.92) Differences persisted after sequentially adjusting for lifestyle factors and social determinants of health.

Conclusion: This study used disaggregated data to demonstrate the complex landscape of cardiovascular health among Hispanic/Latino adults in the US, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and policy efforts to reduce health inequities in this rapidly growing population.