title: Incidence of alcohol use disorders among Hispanic subgroups in the USA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hispanics are the largest ethnic minority group in the USA and a fairly heterogeneous group. But this heterogeneity has usually been ignored by grouping them into a single category. The objective of this study is to challenge that practice by providing alcohol use disorders (AUD) incidence and risk estimates across Hispanic subgroups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A subsample of Hispanics (n = 2371) and non-Hispanic whites (n = 7741) at risk for AUD who participated in the first and second wave of the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions was analyzed. Weighted incidence for AUD was calculated across Hispanic subgroups. A weighted modified Poisson generalized linear model was used to estimate relative risks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with non-Hispanic whites, Puerto Ricans have the highest AUD incidence (3.6%; 95% CI: 0.5, 6.7) followed by Mexican-Americans (2.5%; 95% CI: 1.5, 3.6), Other Hispanics (1.6%; 95% CI: 0.1, 3.1) and Cuban-Americans (0.6%; 95% CI: 0.1, 1.2). In contrast, weighted adjusted relative risk estimates for Mexican-Americans were (RR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.7, 6.2) but for Puerto Ricans (RR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.0, 5.0) it was somewhat attenuated but still significant (P = 0.049). No difference was found for Cuban-Americans or Other Hispanics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The annual incidence and risk for AUD varies greatly among Hispanic subgroups. Nonetheless, the practice of categorizing Hispanics as a homogenous ethnic group still continues. Our findings suggest that this practice is not only inappropriate, but also hinders a better understanding of AUD etiology, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in the largest ethnic minority group in the USA.
authors.affiliation: College of Human Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA carlos.rios@hc.msu.edu.
authors.forename: Carlos F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ríos-Bedoya
authors.affiliation: College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Freile-Salinas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult