HispanicBusiness

WASHINGTON, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Differences between Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic white Americans persist when it comes to cardiovascular health, according to a new Pfizer Inc/National Hispanic Medical Association study released today at the National Hispanic Medical Association annual conference in Washington, D.C.

Mexican-Americans, the largest subgroup of Hispanics in this country comprising seven percent of the U.S. population, are less likely than whites to be aware they have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and they are less likely to be treated for either hypertension or dyslipidemia once they are diagnosed, reports Pfizer Facts: Trends and Differences in Cardiovascular Health Among Mexican-American and non-Hispanic White Populations. The report covers health data available for the period from 1988 to 2000.

"Disparities between Mexican-Americans and whites with regard to awareness and treatment of high blood pressure and high cholesterol may indicate larger public health issues in the future, since both are strong risk factors for cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Robin Hertz, Senior Director of Population Studies at Pfizer Inc and co-author of the study. "The key lies in increasing awareness and treatment today to prevent cardiovascular disease tomorrow."

Overall, high blood pressure is on the rise, increasing from 25% for both Mexican-Americans and whites to 29% in the past decade. The study found that Mexican-Americans lag behind whites in diagnosis and treatment and are less successful in their efforts to lower blood pressure to recommended levels:

* Mexican-Americans are less likely to be diagnosed (58% vs. 68%); * Mexican-Americans are less likely to be treated (39% vs. 59%); * Mexican-Americans who take prescription medications are less likely to lower their blood pressure to recommended levels (40% vs. 54%).

Approximately one-third of both Mexican-Americans and whites -- 33% and 36%, respectively -- have high cholesterol. Mexican-Americans are much less likely to be screened or diagnosed. Interestingly, though, Mexican-Americans who receive treatment for high cholesterol are far more successful than whites in terms of lowering their level:

* Mexican-Americans are far less aware of having high cholesterol (32% vs. 58%); * Only 44% of Mexican-Americans receive screening compared with 74% of whites. * Mexican-Americans are almost half as likely to receive treatment (15% vs. 29%); * Mexican-Americans who are treated for high cholesterol are more likely to reach recommended levels (79% vs. 55%).

"The study points to several areas where Mexican-Americans lag behind whites, but the results indicating effectiveness of treatment for high cholesterol are quite promising. Clearly, physicians and other healthcare providers need to work harder to make sure more Mexican-Americans receive cholesterol screenings and treatment," said Dr. Carlos Ferrario of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, a study co-author.

"Appropriateness of the medical treatment, lack of access to medical care and even patients' own adherence -- or lack of adherence -- to the treatments may all contribute to the cardiovascular health disparities seen in the study," Hertz added.

Pfizer Facts: Trends and Differences in Cardiovascular Health is part of a larger Pfizer initiative that looks at health data for specific groups -- in this case Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic whites -- to provide a platform for identifying more effective treatments for prevalent diseases.