title: Assessment of stroke risk in southern Arizona, the pairing of acculturation and stroke risk factor development.
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.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nokes
authors.forename: Yeeck
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Blake
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Seenu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Byreddy
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Labiner
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coull
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology; D015994:Incidence; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult