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Published on: July 10, 2017
Hispanic paradox in biological risk profiles.
Eileen M Crimmins1, Jung Ki Kim, Dawn E Alley
1Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA. crimmin@usc.edu
American Journal of Public Health
|June 1, 2007
Summary
The Hispanic paradox in health is not supported by biological risk profiles. Foreign-born Hispanics and Whites had similar risk, but US-born Mexican Americans had higher risk.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- The 'Hispanic paradox' suggests better health outcomes for Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic Whites, despite socioeconomic disadvantages.
- This study investigates biological risk profiles across racial, ethnic, and nativity groups to assess the Hispanic paradox.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine biological risk profiles (blood pressure, metabolic, inflammatory) by race, ethnicity, and nativity.
- To evaluate the evidence for a Hispanic paradox in measured health indicators.
- To compare risk profiles among Whites, Blacks, US-born Hispanics, foreign-born Hispanics, and Mexican Americans.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (1999-2002) on adults aged 40+ (n=4206).
- Compared blood pressure, metabolic, and inflammatory risk profiles across specified demographic groups.
- Controlled for age, gender, and socioeconomic status in the analysis.
Main Results:
- Hispanics exhibited more risk factors than Whites but fewer than Blacks.
- Socioeconomic status adjustments eliminated differences between Hispanics and Whites.
- Foreign-born Hispanics showed no increased risk compared to Whites after adjustments, but US-born Mexican Americans had higher biological risk scores.
Conclusions:
- No Hispanic paradox was observed in biological risk profiles.
- Foreign-born Hispanics and Whites had similar biological risk profiles.
- US-born Mexican Americans displayed higher biological risk, potentially due to migrant health selectivity and differing health behaviors.
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