Mexican-Americans Less Aware Of High Blood Pressure & High Cholesterol.

Differences between Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic white Americans persist when it comes to cardiovascular health, according to a new Pfizer Inc/National Hispanic Medical Association study released at the National Hispanic Medical Association annual conference in Washington, D.C.

Mexican-Americans, the largest subgroup of Hispanics in this country comprising seven percent of the U.S. population, are less likely than whites to be aware they have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and they are less likely to be treated for either hypertension or dyslipidemia once they are diagnosed, reports Pfizer Facts: Trends and Differences in Cardiovascular Health Among Mexican-American and non-Hispanic White Populations. The report covers health data available for the period from 1988 to 2000.

“Disparities between Mexican-Americans and whites with regard to awareness and treatment of high blood pressure and high cholesterol may indicate larger public health issues in the future, since both are strong risk factors for cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Robin Hertz, Senior Director of Population Studies at Pfizer Inc and co-author of the study. “The key lies in increasing awareness and treatment today to prevent cardiovascular disease tomorrow.”

Overall, high blood pressure is on the rise, increasing from 25% for both Mexican-Americans and whites to 29% in the past decade. The study found that Mexican-Americans lag behind whites in diagnosis and treatment and are less successful in their efforts to lower blood pressure to recommended levels:

* Mexican-Americans are less likely to be diagnosed (58% vs. 68%);
* Mexican-Americans are less likely to be treated (39% vs. 59%);
* Mexican-Americans who take prescription medications are less likely to lower their blood pressure to recommended levels (40% vs. 54%).

Approximately one-third of both Mexican-Americans and whites — 33% and 36%, respectively — have high cholesterol.

Mexican-Americans are much less likely to be screened or diagnosed. Interestingly, though, Mexican-Americans who receive treatment for high cholesterol are far more successful than whites in terms of lowering their level:

* Mexican-Americans are far less aware of having high cholesterol (32% vs. 58%);
* Only 44% of Mexican-Americans receive screening compared with 74% of whites.
* Mexican-Americans are almost half as likely to receive treatment (15% vs. 29%);
* Mexican-Americans who are treated for high cholesterol are more likely to reach recommended levels (79% vs. 55%).

“The study points to several areas where Mexican-Americans lag behind whites, but the results indicating effectiveness of treatment for high cholesterol are quite promising. Clearly, physicians and other healthcare providers need to work harder to make sure more Mexican-Americans receive cholesterol screenings and treatment,” said Dr. Carlos Ferrario of Wake Forest
University School of Medicine, a study co-author.

“Appropriateness of the medical treatment, lack of access to medical care and even patients’ own adherence — or lack of adherence — to the treatments may all contribute to the cardiovascular health disparities seen in the study,” Hertz added.

Pfizer Facts: Trends and Differences in Cardiovascular Health is part of a larger Pfizer initiative that looks at health data for specific groups — in this case Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic whites — to provide a platform for identifying more effective treatments for prevalent diseases.

The study also found that:

* Diabetes is significantly more common among Mexican-Americans, particularly Mexican-American women, who have twice the rate of diabetes as white women (13% vs. 7%);
* Americans are more obese than ever. The rate is highest among middle-aged Mexican-Americans who have an obesity rate of 38%;
* Mexican-Americans are twice as likely as whites to have no usual source of healthcare (22% vs. 11%) and more than twice as likely to lack health insurance coverage (26% vs. 11%).

The study authors pointed out that the community also has an important role to play in encouraging healthy behavior and action. For example, local groups and institutions can support public awareness campaigns to encourage individuals to see a doctor regularly, get appropriate screenings and increase exercise.

“Important health challenges remain for Mexican-Americans, and the Hispanic population as a whole,” said Dr. Elena Rios, President of the National Hispanic Medical Association. “The fact that Mexican-Americans are twice as likely as whites to lack a usual source of healthcare is disturbing, and it almost certainly contributes to the disparities the study found.”

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

High blood pressure is on the rise for both Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic whites, but awareness and treatment levels for Mexican-Americans are lower:

— Mexican-Americans and whites have the same rate of high blood pressure (29%);
— Mexican-Americans are less likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure (58% vs. 68%);
— Mexican-Americans are less likely to be treated than whites (39% vs. 59%);
— Mexican-Americans who take medication to lower their blood pressure are less likely to reach recommended levels (40% vs. 54%).

Dyslipidemia (High Cholesterol)

Whites are almost twice as likely to be aware of high cholesterol and twice as likely to be treated for high cholesterol than Mexican-Americans:

— About one-third of Mexican-Americans and whites have high cholesterol (33% vs. 36%);
— Only 32% of Mexican-Americans vs. 58% of whites are aware of having high cholesterol;
— Mexican-Americans are less likely than whites to get their cholesterol checked. Only 38% of Mexican-American men have ever had their cholesterol checked, compared with 73% of white men;
— Although treatment rates for high cholesterol are increasing for both whites and Mexican-Americans, Mexican-Americans are half as likely to receive treatment (15% vs. 29%);
— Although treatment continues to be rare, Mexican-Americans who receive treatment are more likely to reach recommended levels than whites (79% vs. 55%).

Diabetes

Diabetes is significantly more common among Mexican-Americans than whites (12% vs. 8%). Differences in prevalence, awareness and treatment are strongest for Mexican-American women:

— Mexican-American women have twice the rate of diabetes as white women (13% vs. 7%)
— Mexican-American women are significantly more aware of diabetes (86% vs. 61%)
— Treatment rates are significantly higher for Mexican-American women than for white women (72% vs. 46%)

Obesity

Americans are more obese now than ever before, with 33% of Mexican-Americans and 29% of whites considered obese. The obesity rate is highest among middle-aged Mexican-Americans (38%).

Access to Healthcare

Mexican-Americans are twice as likely as whites to have no usual source of healthcare (22% vs. 11%), and more than twice as likely to lack health insurance coverage (26% vs. 11%).