Exploring risk factors in Latino cardiovascular disease: The role of education, nativity, and gender

G.Y. Dinwiddie, R.E. Zambrana and M.A. Garza

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 9, 1742-1750

Abstract: Objectives. We examined 3 cardiovascular disease risk factors by nativity and gender, evaluating evidence for education and health behaviors in explaining the "Hispanic Health Paradox." Methods. We analyzed 2001-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data for adults (n = 6032) to compare hypertension, high waist circumference, and diabetes for US- and foreign-born Mexican men and women. We controlled for age, depression, and health insurance. Results. Cardiovascular disease risk factors differed by education, nativity, and gender. Higher education was associated with higher odds of hypertension and high waist circumference for men and women regardless of nativity. As education increased, the odds of diabetes increased for US-born women, showing a gradient for this population. Finally, foreign-born Mexican women with 5 to 19 years in the United States conferred the highest odds of having diabetes, whereas foreign-born men with less than 5 years in the United States had the lowest odds for high waist circumference and presence of diabetes. Conclusions. Results contest assumptions of the Hispanic Health Paradox and suggest new approaches. New research can yield accurate information to ensure the development of appropriate interventions, decreasing health disparities endemic to a subgroup of Latinos.

Keywords: adult; aged; article; cardiovascular disease; diabetes mellitus; ethnology; female; health behavior; health survey; human; hypertension; male; Mexican American; middle aged; migrant; morphometrics; nutrition; risk factor; sex difference; socioeconomics; statistics; time; United States, Adult; Aged; Body Weights and Measures; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Emigrants and Immigrants; Female; Health Behavior; Health Surveys; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Mexican Americans; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Time Factors; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301280_3

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301280

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