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Lifestyle risk factors and cardiovascular disease in cubans and cuban americans

Melissa S Burroughs Peña1, Dhaval Patel, Delfin Rodríguez Leyva

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

Cardiology Research and Practice
|December 29, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Lifestyle factors like poor diet, inactivity, and smoking increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Cuba. While Cuban Americans have higher obesity and diabetes rates, Cubans face rising CVD threats due to these modifiable risks.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of death in Cuba.
  • A comparison of lifestyle risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) between Cubans and Cuban Americans is lacking.
  • Recent epidemiological data from Cuba contrasts with older data on Cuban Americans (HHANES, 1982-1984).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare lifestyle risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Cubans and Cuban Americans.
  • To identify trends and risk factors contributing to the rising CVD burden in Cuba.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of articles published within the last 20 years.
  • Analysis of epidemiological data from Cuba and the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) for Cuban Americans.

Main Results:

  • Cuban Americans exhibit higher prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to Cubans.
  • Dietary habits, physical inactivity, and tobacco use are escalating obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and CHD rates in Cuba.
  • These lifestyle factors are increasing cardiovascular risk among the Cuban population.

Conclusions:

  • Comprehensive national strategies are needed for cardiovascular prevention in Cuba.
  • Addressing modifiable lifestyle risk factors is crucial to mitigate the growing public health threat of CVD in Cuba.

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