Prevalence and risk factors for cerebrovascular disease in community-dwelling Latinos

Surveys on stroke prevalence may provide valuable information for planning of healthcare services. Few such studies have been conducted in Latinos and none have been performed in Los Angeles, a County that contains the largest population of Latinos in the United States. We sought to assess the prevalence of self-reported stroke in a population-based sample of community-dwelling Latinos in Los Angeles.

The group comprised of self-identified Latinos aged 40 years and older from six census tracts in Los Angeles participating in a population-based cross-sectional study of ocular disease in Latinos, The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES). The prevalence of stroke and its association with demographic, biological and behavioral risk factors was determined. Univariate and multiple stepwise logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs).

The prevalence of self-reported stroke in 6954 community-dwelling Latinos in Los Angeles was 3.3%. Stroke prevalence increased with age (1.4% age 40-50, 3.3% age 50-65, 7.1% age >65), history of hypertension (OR 2.6, p<0.001), heart disease (OR 4.8, p<0.001) and diabetic retinopathy (OR 2.1, p=0.01).

Renewed efforts directed at early identification and treatment of hypertension and heart disease within the Latino community will mitigate the burden of stroke.