Risk of cardiovascular disease in first and second generation Mexican-Americans

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular epidemiology
• Public health
• Sociodemographic health disparities

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a significant health concern, particularly within minority populations.
• Understanding generational differences in CVD risk factors is crucial for targeted public health interventions.
• Mexican-Americans (MA) represent a large and growing demographic in the United States, necessitating research into their specific health trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profiles between first-generation (FG) and second-generation (SG) Mexican-Americans (MA).
• To identify generational differences in individual CVD risk factors and a composite risk score.
• To evaluate the utility of cross-survey (pseudocohort) versus within-survey (cross-sectional) comparisons for detecting these differences.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from two national studies: Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Study (HHANES) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES).
• Analyzed five individual CVD risk indicators: total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking.
• Employed both cross-survey (pseudocohort) and within-survey (cross-sectional) analytical approaches for comparison.

Main Results:

• Second-generation (SG) men exhibited higher hypertension rates and lower smoking rates than first-generation (FG) men.
• SG women displayed lower total cholesterol, higher hypertension rates, and lower smoking rates compared to FG women.
• No significant generational differences were observed in the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) for either men or women.

Conclusions:

• Generational shifts in specific CVD risk factors exist among Mexican-Americans, notably hypertension and smoking patterns.
• Cross-survey (pseudocohort) comparisons are more sensitive in detecting generational differences in CVD risk factors than within-survey (cross-sectional) analyses, especially in women.
• Future research on generational health disparities should prioritize pseudocohort methodologies when feasible.