title: Is greater acculturation associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among Latinos in South Florida?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association of acculturation with various cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) among Latinos with diabetes in South Florida.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional analysis of data collected from 300 Latinos with poorly controlled diabetes we measured acculturation using the Marin Short Acculturation Scale. We examined correlations between acculturation and the following 7 CRFs: hemoglobin A1C, low-density lipoprotein, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity, and fruit and vegetable intake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cubans made up 38% of our population; no other Latino subgroup represented over 17% of the sample. Of the 8 outcomes examined, only smoking was associated with increased acculturation; 12% of Latinos in the 2 lowest acculturation groups were current smokers versus 25% in the highest acculturation group (P=0.02). Furthermore, Cuban Americans from our sample had over double the prevalence of smoking compared with non-Cubans in both the lowest and highest acculturation groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the exception of smoking, our data does not support a link between increased acculturation and higher prevalence of CRFs in Latinos with diabetes. Smoking prevention and cessation programs targeting Latinos and particularly among Cubans are needed.
authors: *Department of General Internal Medicine †Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Biostatistics, University of Miami, Miami, FL.
authors: Aileen
authors: A
authors: Chang
authors: Sonjia
authors: S
authors: Kenya
authors: Kumar
authors: K
authors: Ilangovan
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Tulay
authors: T
authors: Koru-Sengul
authors: Yisel
authors: Y
authors: Alonzo
authors: Olveen
authors: O
authors: Carrasquillo
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL