Differences in Prevalence of Large Polyps Between Hispanic Americans from Mexican- and Non-Mexican-Predominant States

There have been conflicting reports comparing the prevalence of large polyps (>9 mm) between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites (NHW). Differences between Hispanic subpopulations may account for these variations.

We aimed to assess the prevalence of large polyps (>9 mm) in Hispanics from Mexican- and non-Mexican-predominant states compared with NHW. As secondary outcome, we evaluated results by polyp location.

The 2010 U.S. Census Bureau was used to identify states with a predominantly Mexican Hispanic (West) versus non-Mexican Hispanic (East) populations. Average-risk colonoscopies in those states from 2001 to 2014 were accessed using the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative database. Military and Veteran's Administration sites were excluded. Hispanics were compared with NHW in each geographical location using hierarchical logistic regression analysis.

A total of 65,138 procedures were included with 33,425 procedures in the West (14.5% Hispanics) and 31,713 procedures in the East (44.0% Hispanics,). East Hispanics had significantly less odds of large polyps, OR 0.74, CI 0.58-0.94, p = 0.02, while West Hispanics exhibited no difference, OR 0.91, CI 0.76-1.10, p = 0.33, compared with NHW. Eastern Hispanics had less odds of large distal polyps, OR 0.69, CI 0.52-0.91, p = 0.01, and no difference in proximal polyps compared with NHW. Among Western Hispanics, no differences were seen in proximal, OR 1.06, CI 0.83-1.35, p = 0.66, or distal polyps, OR 0.83, CI 0.68-1.02, p = 0.08, compared with NHW.

Using NHW as a reference, Hispanics from Mexican-predominant states have a similar prevalence of large polyps, while Hispanics from non-Mexican-predominant states have a lower prevalence. Differences in Hispanic subpopulations likely explain previous conflicting reports on the prevalence of large polyps in Hispanics and NHW.