Study: Variations in disease states and health behaviors among Hispanic groups

NEW YORK — The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, the landmark research study of Hispanic/Latino health funded by the National Institutes of Health, on Tuesday released initial findings that showed significant variations in disease prevalence and health behaviors among groups with different backgrounds. 

The findings reported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the NIH, are the result of the national study that began in 2008. The data is based on interviews conducted with 16,415 study participants at one of four U.S. field centers ─ located in the Bronx, San Diego, Chicago and Miami. 

“While many trends are consistent across all four field sites, there are clear differences between participants in each city — and more importantly, between each Hispanic group,” said Robert Kaplan, professor of epidemiology & population health and principal investigator for HCHS/SOL at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, which established and operates the Bronx field center. 

Among the highlights in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Data Book: A Report to the Communities:

• The percentage of people who report having asthma ranged from 7.4% (Mexican) to 35.8% (Puerto Rican);


• The percentage of individuals who had pre-diabetes ranged from 32.1% (Dominican) to 37.7% (Mexican);


• The percent of people eating five or more fruits/vegetables a day ranged from 19.2% (Puerto Rican) to 55% (Cuban); and


• Average minutes of daily recreational activity ranged from 17.7% (Cuban) to 28.3% (Puerto Rican). 

“Teasing out these variations can help clinicians, public health advocates and members of the community focus their energies in the right places,” explained Kaplan. “Ultimately, we hope to uncover the key factors that can lead to improved health for all Hispanics.”

The study investigators and NIH are partnering with the National Alliance for Hispanic Health and other national and local organizations to increase the reach of the study. On Tuesday the Alliance released a booklet showing the data reported by all four field centers. The 40-page bilingual report is titled "About Our Health: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos."