Abstract
Stroke is a leading cause of mortality in the United States. Hispanics have the same incidence of stroke, but are more likely to have subsequent strokes than non-Hispanic whites. This difference in outcome may be attributable to differences in stroke risk factor awareness. Patients at a community health center in Tucson, AZ completed an anonymous survey regarding existing and perceived health issues. Patient responses were compared in terms of ethnicity and acculturation, as indicated by language preference. Patient responses (n = 301, Spanish: 150, English: 151) indicated that proportionately fewer non-acculturated Hispanics than acculturated Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients indicated that they were at risk for stroke. Acculturated Hispanics and non-Hispanics displayed similar morbidity trends, including increased obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart problems, depression, and previous stroke. These findings suggest that Hispanics become less healthy and more at risk for stroke and stroke risk factors as they become acculturated.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Go AS, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2013 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2013;127:e6–245.
Boden-Albala B, Sacco RL, Lee HS, et al. Metabolic syndrome and ischemic stroke risk: Northern Manhattan Study. Stroke J Cereb Circ. 2008;39:30–5.
Qian F, Fonarow GC, Smith EE, et al. Racial and ethnic differences in outcomes in older patients with acute ischemic stroke. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2013;6:284–92.
Go AS, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, et al. Executive summary: heart disease and stroke statistics—2013 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2013;127:143–52.
Morgenstern LB, Smith MA, Lisabeth LD, et al. Excess stroke in Mexican Americans compared with non-Hispanic whites: the brain attack surveillance in corpus christi project. Am J Epidemiol. 2004;160:376–83.
Nokes BSY, Byreddy S, Chong J, Drake K, Labiner D, Coull B. Assessment of stroke risk factors in Southern Arizona. In: American academy of neurology (Abstract P02054); 2013.
Delavari M, Sonderlund AL, Swinburn B, Mellor D, Renzaho A. Acculturation and obesity among migrant populations in high income countries—a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:458.
Chong J, Hesdorffer DC, Thurman DJ, et al. The prevalence of epilepsy along the Arizona-Mexico border. Epilepsy Res. 2013;105:206–15.
Kennedy SM, James Biddle, Nicholas. The healthy immigrant effect and immigrant selection: evidence from four countries. Social and economic dimensions of an aging population. 2006; (SEDAP Research Paper No. 164).
Gushulak B. Healthier on arrival? Further insight into the “healthy immigrant effect”. Can Med Assoc J. 2007;176:1439–40.
Marin G, Sabogal F, Marin BV, Oterosabogal R, Perezstable EJ. Development of a short acculturation scale for Hispanics. Hisp J Behav Sci. 1987;9:183–205.
Wallen GR, Feldman RH, Anliker J. Measuring acculturation among Central American women with the use of a brief language scale. J Immigr Health. 2002;4:95–102.
When Labels Don’t Fit: Hispanics and their views of identity. Pew Hispanic Center Survey; 2012.
Singh GK, Miller BA. Health, life expectancy, and mortality patterns among immigrant populations in the United States. Can J Public Health. 2004;95:I14–21.
Perez-Escamilla R. Dietary quality among Latinos: is acculturation making us sick? J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109:988–91.
Gordon-Larsen P, Harris KM, Ward DS, Popkin BM. Acculturation and overweight-related behaviors among Hispanic immigrants to the US: the national longitudinal study of adolescent health. Soc Sci Med. 2003;57:2023–34.
Adult Obesity. Harvard School of Public Health, 2012. (Accessed 6 July 2013, 2013, at http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-trends/obesity-rates-worldwide/—References).
Gonzalez HM, Haan MN, Hinton L. Acculturation and the prevalence of depression in older Mexican Americans: baseline results of the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001;49:948–53.
Chong J, Drake K, Atkinson PB, Ouellette E, Labiner DM. Social and family characteristics of Hispanics with epilepsy. Seizure: J Br Epilepsy Assoc. 2012;21:12–6.
Quick Facts from the US Census Bureau. US Census Bureau, 2013. (Accessed 7 July 2013, at http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/040/04019.html).
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the patients who provided information to St. Elizabeth Health Center for program planning and to SEHC for their collaborative endeavors. This project was deemed not to require IRB approval because it is a needs assessment and not designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nokes, B., Sim, Y., Gibson, B. et al. Assessment of Stroke Risk in Southern Arizona, the Pairing of Acculturation and Stroke Risk Factor Development. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 513–518 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9940-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9940-3