Hispanic and Latino adults showed increasing prevalence of favorable blood lipids (29.4% to 45.3%) and nicotine exposure, but declining favorable blood glucose (44.6% to 37.5%) from 2008 to 2024.
Observational
Yes
Between 2008 and 2024, US Hispanic and Latino adults demonstrated improving trends in blood lipids and nicotine exposure but worsening blood glucose levels, highlighting specific cardiovascular health disparities.
BACKGROUND: The long-term trends of favorable cardiovascular health among US Hispanic and Latino adults are not well understood. Using recent data spanning 2008 to 2024, this study examines contemporary changes in cardiovascular health within a diverse Hispanic and Latino population and compares them with national patterns. METHODS: We applied the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 metrics of cardiovascular risk factor status to HCHS/SOL (Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos) participants aged 28 to 74 years who were free of cardiovascular disease. Across 3 study visits (2008-2024), we examined the prevalence of achieving favorable metrics (Life's Essential 8 score ≥80) for nicotine exposure, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. Comparisons were made with Hispanic and Latino and non-Hispanic White adults in the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). RESULTS: Over time, Hispanic and Latino adults had increasing prevalence of meeting the favorable Life's Essential 8 metric for blood lipids (HCHS/SOL, 29.4%-45.3%; NHANES, 30.6%-38.9%) and nicotine exposure (HCHS/SOL, 56.3%-63.4%; NHANES, 60.8%-67.1%), along with declining prevalence of meeting the favorable blood glucose metric (HCHS/SOL, 44.6%-37.5%; NHANES, 33.6%-30.0%). When comparing the Hispanic and Latino populations versus NHANES non-Hispanic White adults, the most marked and persistent differences were more favorable nicotine exposure and less favorable body mass index and glucose levels among the Hispanic and Latino groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanic and Latino adults exhibit both advantages and disadvantages in cardiovascular health compared with non-Hispanic White adults. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and culturally tailored policies to address cardiovascular health disparities.
Ma et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Cardiovascular health. Hispanic and Latino ethnicity vs. Non-Hispanic White adults was evaluated on Prevalence of achieving favorable metrics (Life's Essential 8 score ≥80) for nicotine exposure, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. Hispanic and Latino adults showed increasing prevalence of favorable blood lipids (29.4% to 45.3%) and nicotine exposure, but declining favorable blood glucose (44.6% to 37.5%) from 2008 to 2024.