Despite a worse risk factor profile, Hispanics/Latinos exhibit lower cardiovascular disease prevalence and mortality compared to non-Hispanic Whites, highlighting the Hispanic paradox.
This review highlights the 'Hispanic paradox' in cardiovascular disease, emphasizing the need for better risk models and targeted interventions for Latinos in the US.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality in the United States and Western world for all groups with one exception: CVDs are the number 2 cause of death for Hispanics/Latinos behind cancer with overall cancer rates lower for Latinos relative to non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Despite a significantly worse risk factor profile marked by higher rates of traditional and non-traditional determinants, some CVD prevalence and mortality rates are significantly lower among Latinos relative NHWs. These findings support a need for greater understanding of CVDs specifically among Latinos in order to better document prevalence, appropriately model risk and resilience, and improve targeting of intervention efforts. The current aim is to provide a state-of-the-science review of CVDs amongst Latinos including a review of the epidemiological evidence, risk factor prevalence, and evaluation of the breadth and quality of the data. Questions concerning the generalizability of current risk models, the Hispanic paradox as it relates to CVDs, contributing psychosocial and sociocultural factors, and future directions are discussed.
Balfour et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Cardiovascular disease. Hispanic/Latino ethnicity vs. Non-Hispanic Whites was evaluated. Despite a worse risk factor profile, Hispanics/Latinos exhibit lower cardiovascular disease prevalence and mortality compared to non-Hispanic Whites, highlighting the Hispanic paradox.