Cardiovascular risk factors of Anglos and Mexican-American Hispanics in Pima County, Arizona

Abstract

A comparison study of cardiovascular risk factors between Anglos and Mexican-American Hispanics, by gender and age, was conducted with 1343 subjects in Pima County, Arizona. Data was collected through public health screenings at a variety of sites (39) throughout the community. A self-administered questionnaire and measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, total blood cholesterol and blood glucose provided the data. Risk factors (total blood cholesterol, hypertension, smoking, genetic tendency, diabetes, obesity and lack of exercise) were analyzed individually and in combination by age, gender and ethnicity. Some of the significant findings (p ≤ 0.05) were females, greater than 50 years of age, had higher cholesterol levels and more multiple risk factors than comparable males, that more Anglos (p ≤ .005) both males and females, had elevated blood cholesterol levels than did Mexican-Americans but that Mexican-Americans were more obese and exercised less than Anglos.