Years of Potential Life Lost from Cardiovascular Disease Among Hispanics

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiovascular Epidemiology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of premature death.
• Hispanic populations in the U.S. are diverse, with varying health profiles.
• Understanding CVD mortality across Hispanic subgroups is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the impact of cardiovascular disease and its subtypes on premature mortality among distinct Hispanic subgroups in the U.S.
• To analyze disparities in cardiovascular disease mortality across Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban populations.
• To identify specific CVD subtypes contributing most to premature mortality within these groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized national death records from 2003-2012 for over 832,550 deaths.
• Identified cardiovascular disease deaths and subtypes (ischemic, cerebrovascular, hypertensive, heart failure) using ICD-10 codes.
• Calculated Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) standardized to the 2000 U.S. Census population.

Main Results:

• Puerto Ricans exhibited the highest YPLL for overall cardiovascular disease (1,139 YPLL/100,000) compared to Mexicans (868) and Cubans (841).
• This disparity in premature cardiovascular mortality persisted over the decade studied.
• Puerto Ricans had the highest YPLL for ischemic and hypertensive heart disease; Mexicans led in cerebrovascular disease mortality.

Conclusions:

• Disaggregating data by Hispanic subgroup reveals significant heterogeneity in premature cardiovascular mortality.
• Public health strategies must incorporate Hispanic subgroup status to effectively address cardiovascular health.
• Targeted interventions are needed to reduce CVD disparities among diverse Hispanic populations.