Outcomes Among Mexican American and Non-Hispanic White Informal Stroke Caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Informal home care is prevalent among Mexican American stroke survivors, but data on the impact on caregivers are not available. The aim was to assess ethnic differences in informal stroke caregiving and caregiver outcomes at 90 days poststroke. METHODS: Informal caregivers were recruited from the population-based Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi Project (2019-2023), conducted in a bi-ethnic community in Texas. Caregivers of community-dwelling stroke survivors who were not cognitively impaired and not employed by a formal caregiving agency were interviewed. Interviews included sociodemographics, dyad characteristics, Modified Caregiver Strain Index (range 0-26, higher more positive), Positive Aspects of Caregiving scale (range, 5-45, higher more), Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (range, 0-30, higher worse), and PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System)-10 physical (range, 16.2-67.7, higher better) and mental health (range, 21.2-67.6, higher better) summary scores. Stroke survivor data was from interviews and medical records. Propensity score methods were used to balance caregiver and patient factors among Mexican American and Non-Hispanic White caregivers by fitting a model with ethnicity of caregiver as the outcome and predictors being caregiver sociodemographics, patient-caregiver dyad characteristics, and patient sociodemographics and functional disability. Propensity scores were included as a covariate in regression models, considering the association between ethnicity and outcomes. RESULTS: Mexican American caregivers were younger, more likely female, and more likely a child of the stroke survivor than Non-Hispanic White caregivers. Mexican American caregiver ethnicity was associated with less caregiver strain (ß, -1.87 [95% CI, -3.51 to -0.22]) and depressive symptoms (ß, -2.02 [95% CI, -3.41 to -0.64]) and more favorable mental health (ß, 4.90 [95% CI, 2.49-7.31]) and positive aspects of caregiving (ß, 3.29 [95% CI, 1.35-5.23]) but not associated with physical health. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the mechanisms behind more favorable caregiver outcomes in Mexican American people may aid in the design of culturally sensitive interventions to improve both caregiver and stroke survivor outcomes, potentially across all race and ethnic groups.

Dietary Patterns and Years Living in the United States by Hispanic/Latino Heritage in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

BACKGROUND: Previous diet findings in Hispanics/Latinos rarely reflect differences in commonly consumed and culturally relevant foods across heritage groups and by years lived in the United States. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify and compare a posteriori heritage-specific dietary patterns (DPs) and evaluate their associations with "healthfulness" [using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010)] and years living in the United States. METHODS: We used baseline data from a population-based cohort of 14,099 Hispanics/Latinos aged 18-74 y in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. We performed principal factor analysis using two 24-h recalls to derive DPs, separately, in each heritage group (Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Central American, and South American), and identified overarching DPs based on high-loading foods shared by ≥2 groups. We used multivariable linear regression to test associations of DPs with AHEI-2010 and years living in the United States. RESULTS: We identified 5 overarching DPs (Burgers, Fries, & Soft Drinks; White Rice, Beans, & Red Meats; Fish; Egg & Cheese; and Alcohol). All Burgers, Fries, & Soft Drinks DPs were inversely associated with AHEI-2010, whereas all Fish DPs (except Dominican) were positively associated with this index (all P-trend < 0.001). White Rice, Beans, & Red Meats DPs showed inverse associations in Cuban and Central American groups and positive associations in Mexican-origin individuals (all P-trend < 0.001). Fewer years living in the United States was associated with higher scores for White Rice, Beans, & Red Meats DPs in Cuban and Mexican heritage groups and lower scores on Burgers, Fries, & Soft Drinks DPs in Cuban, Mexican, and Puerto Rican groups (all P-trend < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show substantial variation in DPs across Hispanics/Latinos and adherence to DPs by time in the United States, which could inform dietary interventions targeting this diverse US population. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02060344.

Comparing Methods from the National Cancer Institute vs Multiple Source Method for Estimating Usual Intake of Nutrients in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latino Youth.

BACKGROUND: The Multiple Source Method (MSM) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) method estimate usual dietary intake from short-term dietary assessment instruments, such as 24-hour recalls. Their performance varies according to sample size and nutrients distribution. A comparison of these methods among a multiethnic youth population, for which nutrient composition and dietary variability may differ from adults, is a gap in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of the NCI method relative to MSM in estimating usual dietary intakes in Hispanic/Latino adolescents. DESIGN: Data derived from the cross-sectional population-based Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latino Youth, an ancillary study of offspring of participants in the adult Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latino Youth cohort. Dietary data were obtained by two 24-hour recalls. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: One thousand four hundred fifty-three Hispanic/Latino youth (aged 8 to 16 years) living in four urban US communities (Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; and San Diego, CA) during 2012 through 2014. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The NCI method and the MSM were applied to estimate usual intake of total energy, macronutrients, minerals and vitamins, added sugar, and caffeine. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values, coefficient of variation, variance ratio, and differences between NCI and MSM methods and the 2-day mean were estimated in several percentiles of the distribution, as well as concordance correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plot analysis. RESULTS: The distributions of all nutrients studied were very similar between NCI and MSM. The correlation between NCI and MSM was >0.80 for all nutrients (P<0.001), except dietary cholesterol, vitamin C, and n-3 fatty acids. In individual estimations, NCI method predicted higher estimates and lower variance than the MSM. The lowest level of agreement was observed in the values at the tails of the distribution, and for nutrients with high variance ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, both MSM and NCI method provided acceptable estimates of the usual intake distribution using 24-hour recall, and they better represented the usual intake compared with 2-day mean, correcting for intraindividual variability.

Prevalence and correlates of mild cognitive impairment among diverse Hispanics/Latinos: Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging results.

INTRODUCTION: We estimated the prevalence and correlates of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among middle-aged and older diverse Hispanics/Latinos. METHODS: Middle-aged and older diverse Hispanics/Latinos enrolled (n = 6377; 50-86 years) in this multisite prospective cohort study were evaluated for MCI using the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: The overall MCI prevalence was 9.8%, which varied between Hispanic/Latino groups. Older age, high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and elevated depressive symptoms were significant correlates of MCI prevalence. Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE) and APOE2 were not significantly associated with MCI. DISCUSSION: MCI prevalence varied among Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, but not as widely as reported in the previous studies. CVD risk and depressive symptoms were associated with increased MCI, whereas APOE4 was not, suggesting alternative etiologies for MCI among diverse Hispanics/Latinos. Our findings suggest that mitigating CVD risk factors may offer important pathways to understanding and reducing MCI and possibly dementia among diverse Hispanics/Latinos.

Perceived Discrimination and Cardiometabolic Risk Among US Hispanics/Latinos in the HCHS/SOL Sociocultural Ancillary Study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of cardiovascular risk factors including elevated blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, impaired fasting glucose, and abdominal obesity, which disproportionately affects Hispanics/Latinos. The present study examined associations between perceived discrimination and MetS in Hispanic/Latino adults from various background groups (i.e., Dominican, Central American, Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South American). METHODS: Data were obtained from 5174 Hispanics/Latinos who participated in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sociocultural Ancillary Study. MetS components and covariates were measured at a baseline examination, and perceived discrimination was assessed within 9 months of baseline. Path analysis modeled associations of perceived discrimination with MetS prevalence and each of the six components of MetS, controlling for age, sex, income, acculturation, physical activity, diet, smoking, and alcohol use. RESULTS: Among the full cohort, perceived discrimination was not associated with MetS prevalence in any of the models evaluated. Higher perceived discrimination at work/school was associated with larger waist circumference. When examining background groups separately, higher perceived ethnicity-associated threat was related to increased MetS prevalence only among individuals of Central American background. Differential patterns of association between perceived discrimination and MetS components were found for different background groups. CONCLUSIONS: Overall results suggested that perceived discrimination was not strongly or consistently associated with MetS among Hispanics/Latinos.

Structural social support and cardiovascular disease risk factors in Hispanic/Latino adults with diabetes: results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

OBJECTIVE(S): Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have yielded inconsistent findings on the associations of social support networks with cardiovascular health in Hispanic/Latino adults with diabetes. We examined the cross-sectional associations of structural social support and traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a diverse sample of Hispanic/Latino adults with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This analysis included 2994 adult participants ages 18-74 with diabetes from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL - 2008-2011). Select items from the Social Network Inventory (SNI) were used to assess indices of structural social support, i.e. network size (number of children, parents, and in-laws) and frequency of familial contact. Standardized methods were used to measure abdominal obesity, BMI, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking status. Multivariate regression was used to examine associations of structural support with individual CVD risk factors with demographics, acculturation, physical health, and psychological ill-being (depressive symptoms and anxiety) included as covariates. RESULTS: There were no significant cross-sectional associations of structural support indices with abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or smoking status. There was a marginally significant (OR: 1.05; 95%CI 0.99-1.11) trend toward higher odds of obesity in participants reporting a larger family unit (including children, parents, and in-laws) and those with closer ties with extended family relatives (OR: 1.04; 95%CI 0.99-1.09). CONCLUSIONS: Structural social support was marginally associated with higher odds of obesity in Hispanic/Latino adults with diabetes. Alternate forms of social support (e.g. healthcare professionals, friends, peers) should be further explored as potential markers of cardiac risk in Hispanics/Latinos with diabetes.

Dulce Digital: An mHealth SMS-Based Intervention Improves Glycemic Control in Hispanics With Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetes is growing in epidemic proportions and disproportionately affects lower-income, diverse communities. Text messaging may provide one of the most rapid methods to overcome the "digital divide" to improve care. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized, nonblinded, parallel-groups clinical trial design allocated N = 126 low-income, Hispanic participants with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes to receive the Dulce Digital intervention or usual care (UC). Dulce Digital participants received up to three motivational, educational, and/or call-to-action text messages per day over 6 months. The primary outcome was HbA1c; lipids, blood pressure, and BMI were secondary outcomes. Satisfaction and acceptability were evaluated via focus groups and self-report survey items. RESULTS: The majority of patients were middle-aged (mean age 48.43 years, SD 9.80), female (75%), born in Mexico (91%), and uninsured (75%) and reported less than a ninth-grade education level (73%) and mean baseline HbA1c 9.5% (80 mmol/mol), SD 1.3, and fasting plasma glucose 187.17 mg/dL, SD 64.75. A statistically significant time-by-group interaction effect indicated that the Dulce Digital group achieved a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c over time compared with UC (P = 0.03). No statistically significant effects were observed for secondary clinical indicators. The number of blood glucose values texted in by participants was a statistically significant predictor of month 6 HbA1c (P < 0.05). Satisfaction and acceptability ratings for the Dulce Digital intervention were high. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a simple, low-cost text messaging program was found to be highly acceptable in this sample of high-risk, Hispanic individuals with type 2 diabetes and resulted in greater improvement in glycemic control compared with UC.

Actigraphic Sleep Patterns of U.S. Hispanics: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

Study objective: To assess the extent to which objective sleep patterns vary among U.S. Hispanics/Latinos. Methods: We assessed objective sleep patterns in 2087 participants of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos from 6 Hispanic/Latino subgroups aged 18-64 years who underwent 7 days of wrist actigraphy. Results: The age- and sex-standardized mean (SE) sleep duration was 6.82 (0.05), 6.72 (0.07), 6.61 (0.07), 6.59 (0.06), 6.57 (0.10), and 6.44 (0.09) hr among individuals of Mexican, Cuban, Dominican, Central American, Puerto Rican, and South American heritage, respectively. Sleep maintenance efficiency ranged from 89.2 (0.2)% in Mexicans to 86.5 (0.4)% in Puerto Ricans, while the sleep fragmentation index ranged from 19.7 (0.3)% in Mexicans to 24.2 (0.7)% in Puerto Ricans. In multivariable models adjusted for age, sex, season, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and comorbidities, these differences persisted. Conclusions: There are important differences in actigraphically measured sleep across U.S. Hispanic/Latino heritages. Individuals of Mexican heritage have longer and more consolidated sleep, while those of Puerto Rican heritage have shorter and more fragmented sleep. These differences may have clinically important effects on health outcomes.

Diet Quality and Its Association with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Vary by Hispanic and Latino Ethnic Background in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

BACKGROUND: Healthful diet quality has been associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in several populations, but reports on Hispanic and Latino cohorts, grouped or by ethnic background, have been limited and inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine diet quality by using the 2010 Alternate Healthy Eating Index [(AHEI) range: 0-110, lowest to highest quality] and its cross-sectional association with MetS and its cardiometabolic components across 6 Hispanic and Latino backgrounds. METHODS: We studied 12,406 US Hispanics and Latinos, aged 18-74 y and free of diabetes, from the multicenter, population-based Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos cohort. Food and nutrients were assessed from two 24-h recalls. MetS was defined by using the 2009 harmonized guidelines. Complex survey procedures were used in multivariable-adjusted linear regression models to test the association of the AHEI with continuous markers and in logistic regression models with MetS as an outcome. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was 24.2%. Overall, Hispanics and Latinos had low scores for intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juices, whole grains, and fruit and favorable scores for trans fats and nuts and legumes, according to AHEI criteria. Adjusted mean AHEI and its individual components differed by ethnic background (P < 0.001), ranging from 43.0 for Puerto Ricans to 52.6 for Mexicans. Overall, adjusted odds (95% CIs) of having MetS were 22% (9%, 33%) lower for each 10-unit increase in AHEI. This association was modified by ethnic background (P-interaction = 0.03), with significantly lower odds observed only for Mexicans (30%; 95% CIs: 13%, 44%) and Central Americans (42%; 95% CIs: 9%, 64%) for each 10-unit increase in AHEI. AHEI was inversely associated with waist circumference, blood pressure, and glucose among Mexicans and Puerto Ricans and with triglycerides among Mexicans only, and positively associated with HDL cholesterol among Puerto Ricans and Central Americans (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Diet quality differed by Hispanic or Latino background. Although healthier diet quality was associated with lower odds of MetS in the overall Hispanic and Latino cohort, the association of AHEI and cardiometabolic factors varied by ethnic background. Nutrition-related research and interventions among ethnically diverse groups should consider individual ethnic backgrounds to optimally address diet quality and cardiometabolic health. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02060344.

Differences in Hemoglobin A1c Between Hispanics/Latinos and Non-Hispanic Whites: An Analysis of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos and the 2007-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether, after adjustment for glycemia and other selected covariates, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) differed among adults from six Hispanic/Latino heritage groups (Central American, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and South American) and between Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic white adults without self-reported diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 13,083 individuals without self-reported diabetes from six Hispanic/Latino heritage groups, enrolled from 2008 to 2011 in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, and 2,242 non-Hispanic white adults enrolled during the 2007-2012 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We compared HbA1c levels among Hispanics/Latinos and between Hispanics/Latinos and non-Hispanic whites before and after adjustment for age, sex, fasting (FPG) and 2-h post-oral glucose tolerance test (2hPG) glucose, anthropometric measurements, and selected biochemical and hematologic variables and after stratification by diabetes status: unrecognized diabetes (FPG ≥7.1 mmol/L or 2hPG ≥11.2 mmol/L), prediabetes (FPG 5.6-7.0 mmol/L or 2hPG 7.8-11.1 mmol/L), and normal glucose tolerance (FPG <5.6 mmol/L and 2hPG <7.8 mmol/L). RESULTS: Adjusted mean HbA1c differed significantly across all seven groups (P < 0.001). Non-Hispanic whites had significantly lower HbA1c (P < 0.05) than each individual Hispanic/Latino heritage group. Upon stratification by diabetes status, statistically significant differences (P < 0.001) in adjusted mean HbA1c persisted across all seven groups. CONCLUSIONS: HbA1c differs among Hispanics/Latinos of diverse heritage groups and between non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics/Latinos after adjustment for glycemia and other covariates. The clinical significance of these differences is unknown.

Social and Health Correlates of Sleep Duration in a US Hispanic Population: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To define the prevalence of poor sleep patterns in the US Hispanic/Latino population, identify sociodemographic and psychosocial predictors of short and long sleep duration, and the association between sleep and cardiometabolic outcomes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING: Community-based study. PARTICIPANTS: Adults age 18-74 y free of sleep disorders (n = 11,860) from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos baseline examination (2008-2011). INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The mean self-reported sleep duration was 8.0 h per night with 18.6% sleeping less than 7 h and 20.1% sleeping more than 9 h in age- and sex-adjusted analyses. Short sleep was most common in individuals of Puerto Rican heritage (25.6%) and the Other Hispanic group (27.4%). Full-time employment, low level of education, and depressive symptoms were independent predictors of short sleep, whereas unemployment, low household income, low level of education, and being born in the mainland US were independent predictors of long sleep. After accounting for sociodemographic differences, short sleep remained significantly associated with obesity with an odds ratio of 1.29 [95% confidence interval 1.12-1.49] but not with diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease. In contrast, long sleep was not associated with any of these conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep duration is highly variable among US Hispanic/Latinos, varying by Hispanic/Latino heritage as well as socioeconomic status. These differences may have health consequences given associations between sleep duration and cardiometabolic disease, particularly obesity.

Sleep apnea is independently associated with peripheral arterial disease in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

OBJECTIVE: Sleep apnea (SA) has been linked with various forms of cardiovascular disease, but little is known about its association with peripheral artery disease (PAD) measured using the ankle-brachial index. This relationship was evaluated in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We studied 8367 Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos participants who were 45 to 74 years of age. Sleep symptoms were examined with the self-reported Sleep Health Questionnaire. SA was assessed using an in-home sleep study. Systolic blood pressure was measured in all extremities to compute the ankle-brachial index. PAD was defined as ankle-brachial index <0.90 in either leg. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the association between moderate-to-severe SA, defined as apnea-hypopnea index ≥15, and the presence of PAD. Analyses were adjusted for covariates. The prevalence of PAD was 4.7% (n=390). The mean apnea-hypopnea index was significantly higher among adults with PAD compared with those without (11.1 versus 8.6 events/h; P=0.046). After adjusting for covariates, moderate-to-severe SA was associated with a 70% increase in the odds of PAD (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.5; P=0.0152). This association was not modified by sex (P=0.8739). However, there was evidence that the association between moderate-to-severe SA and PAD varied by Hispanic/Latino background (P<0.01). Specifically, the odds were stronger in Mexican (adjusted odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-6.2) and in Puerto Rican Americans (adjusted odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.97-4.2) than in other backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-to-severe SA is associated with higher odds of PAD in Hispanic/Latino adults.

A three-decade evolution to transdisciplinary research: community health research in California-Mexico border communities.

BACKGROUND: The Institute for Behavioral and Community Health (IBACH) is a transdisciplinary organization with a team-oriented approach to the translation of research to practice and policy within the context of behavioral medicine. OBJECTIVES: This paper tracks the growth of IBACH in the context of evolving, multi-university transdisciplinary research efforts from a behavioral medicine research focus to community approaches to disease prevention and control, ultimately specializing in Latino health research and practice. We describe how this growth was informed by our partnerships with community members and organizations, and training a diverse array of students and young professionals. METHODS: Since 1982, IBACH's research has evolved to address a greater breadth of factors associated with health and well-being. This was driven by our strong community focus and emphasis on collaborations, the diversity of our investigative teams, and our emphasis on training. Although behavioral science still forms the core of IBACH's scientific orientation, research efforts extend beyond those traditionally examined. CONCLUSIONS: IBACH's "team science" successes have been fueled by a specific population emphasis, making IBACH one of the nation's leaders in Latino health behavior research.

Dyslipidemia patterns among Hispanics/Latinos of diverse background in the United States.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and determinants of dyslipidemia patterns among Hispanics/Latinos are not well known. METHODS: Lipid and lipoprotein data were used from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos­a population-based cohort of 16,415 US Hispanic/Latinos ages 18-74 years. National Cholesterol Education Program cutoffs were employed. Differences in demographics, lifestyle factors, and biological and acculturation characteristics were compared among those with and without dyslipidemia. RESULTS: Mean age was 41.1 years, and 47.9% were male. The overall prevalence of any dyslipidemia was 65.0%. The prevalence of elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 36.0%, and highest among Cubans (44.5%; P < .001). Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was present in 41.4% and did not significantly differ across Hispanic background groups (P = .09). High triglycerides were seen in 14.8% of Hispanics/Latinos, most commonly among Central Americans (18.3%; P < .001). Elevated non-HDL-C was seen in 34.7%, with the highest prevalence among Cubans (43.3%; P < .001). Dominicans consistently had a lower prevalence of most types of dyslipidemia. In multivariate analyses, the presence of any dyslipidemia was associated with increasing age, body mass index, and low physical activity. Older age, female sex, diabetes, low physical activity, and alcohol use were associated with specific dyslipidemia types. Spanish-language preference and lower educational status were associated with higher dyslipidemia prevalence. CONCLUSION: Dyslipidemia is highly prevalent among US Hispanics/Latinos; Cubans seem particularly at risk. Determinants of dyslipidemia varied across Hispanic backgrounds, with socioeconomic status and acculturation having a significant effect on dyslipidemia prevalence. This information can help guide public health measures to prevent disparities among the US Hispanic/Latino population.

Associations between nocturnal blood pressure dipping and the metabolic syndrome in high- vs. low-acculturated Mexican American women.

BACKGROUND: Less nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping has been associated with greater odds for the metabolic syndrome (MetS), a constellation of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Little work has examined this association in Hispanics, who have elevated rates of MetS, or investigated differences in this relationship by level of acculturation. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between BP dipping and MetS in Hispanic women and to determine if this association is moderated by acculturation status. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-six Mexican American women underwent assessment of MetS components (BP, waist circumference, fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides) and completed a 36-hour ambulatory BP monitoring protocol, during which systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP readings were obtained. Nocturnal BP dipping was calculated as the percentage difference between average daytime and nighttime BP. Acculturation was defined by the language (Spanish, English) in which participants preferred to complete study instruments. RESULTS: Although no significant main effects for BP dipping or acculturation emerged for MetS, the SBP dipping by acculturation interaction was significantly related to MetS (P < 0.01). Simple slope analyses revealed that less SBP dipping related to greater odds of MetS in high-acculturated women, but SBP dipping and MetS were unrelated in low-acculturated women. CONCLUSIONS: The strength of the association between BP dipping and CVD risk (as measured by MetS) appears to vary by acculturation in Hispanic women. Future studies should explore mechanisms behind the BP dipping and CVD risk association and relevant modifying factors.

Socioeconomic status and stress in Mexican-American women: a multi-method perspective.

Stress is a hypothesized pathway in socioeconomic status (SES)-physical health associations, but the available empirical data are inconsistent. In part, this may reflect discrepancies in the approach to measuring stress across studies, and differences in the nature of SES-stress associations across demographic groups. We examined associations of SES (education, income) with general and domain-specific chronic stressors, stressful life events, perceived stress, and stressful daily experiences in 318 Mexican-American women (40-65 years old). Women with higher SES reported lower perceived stress and fewer low-control experiences in everyday life (ps < .05), but greater chronic stress (education only, p < .05). Domain-specific analyses showed negative associations of income with chronic housing and financial stress (ps < .05), but positive associations of SES with chronic work and caregiving stress (all ps < .05 except for income and caregiving stress, p < .10). Sensitivity analyses showed that most SES-stress associations were consistent across acculturation levels. Future research should adopt a multi-dimensional assessment approach to better understand links among SES, stress, and physical health, and should consider the sociodemographic context in conceptualizing the role of stress in SES-related health inequalities.

Fatalism and cardio-metabolic dysfunction in Mexican-American women.

BACKGROUND: Mexican-American women are disproportionately vulnerable to cardio-metabolic dysfunction and related health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Research shows that low socioeconomic status contributes to this populations excess vulnerability to cardio-metabolic dysfunction, but little is known about the contribution of cultural factors to these associations. PURPOSE: The current study explored the association between fatalism and cardio-metabolic dysfunction in a randomly selected community cohort of middle-aged Mexican-American women and examined whether fatalism could be conceptualized as a pathway linking socioeconomic status to cardio-metabolic dysfunction in this population. METHOD: Participants included 300 women (ages 40-65), recruited from San Diego communities located near the Mexican border, who completed a self-administered survey battery and underwent a fasting clinical exam between the years 2006 and 2009. RESULTS: Linear regression analyses and mediation analyses utilizing bootstrapping procedures were performed to test study hypotheses. After controlling for age, menopausal status, and acculturation level, fatalism was associated with cardio-metabolic dysfunction. Although slightly attenuated, this relationship persisted after accounting for socioeconomic status. In addition, individuals of low socioeconomic status displayed more fatalistic beliefs and higher cardio-metabolic dysfunction after accounting for relevant covariates. Finally, the indirect effect of socioeconomic status on cardio-metabolic dysfunction via fatalism reached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Fatalism may be an important independent risk factor for cardio-metabolic dysfunction in Mexican-American women as well as a mechanism linking socioeconomic status to cardio-metabolic health.

Socioeconomic status, nocturnal blood pressure dipping, and psychosocial factors: a cross-sectional investigation in Mexican-American women.

BACKGROUND: Despite established links between reduced nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping and cardiovascular disease, BP dipping research in Hispanics is limited. PURPOSE: This study investigated socioeconomic status (SES) as a predictor of BP dipping and the contributions of psychosocial factors to this relationship. Analyses were conducted for the overall sample and separately for higher and lower acculturated women. METHODS: Mexican-American women (N = 291; 40-65 years) reported demographics and completed psychosocial assessments and 36-h ambulatory BP monitoring. RESULTS: Lower SES related to reduced BP dipping in the overall sample and in more US-acculturated women (r's = .17-.30, p's < .05), but not in less-acculturated women (r's = .07, p's > .10). An indirect effect model from SES to BP dipping via psychosocial resources/risk fits well across samples. CONCLUSIONS: In Mexican-American women, the nature of SES gradients in BP dipping and the roles of psychosocial resources/risk differ by acculturation level.

Individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status and inflammation in Mexican American women: what is the role of obesity?

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation may represent a biological mechanism underlying associations of socioeconomic status (SES) with cardiovascular disease. We examined relationships of individual and neighborhood SES with inflammatory markers in Mexican American women and evaluated contributions of obesity and related heath behaviors to these associations. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-four Mexican American women (mean age = 49.74 years) were recruited from socioeconomically diverse South San Diego communities. Women completed measures of sociodemographic characteristics and health behaviors, and underwent a physical examination with fasting blood draw for assay of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1). Neighborhood SES was extracted from the US Census Bureau 2000 database. RESULTS: In multilevel models, a 1-standard deviation higher individual or neighborhood SES related to a 27.35% and 23.56% lower CRP level (p values < .01), a 7.04% and 5.32% lower sICAM-1 level (p values < .05), and a 10.46% (p < .05) and 2.40% lower IL-6 level (not significant), respectively. Controlling for individual SES, a 1-standard deviation higher neighborhood SES related to a 18.05% lower CRP level (p = .07). Differences in body mass index, waist circumference, and dietary fat consumption contributed significantly to SES-inflammation associations. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support a link between SES and inflammatory markers in Mexican American women and implicate obesity and dietary fat in these associations. Additional effects of neighborhood SES were not statistically significant; however, these findings should be viewed tentatively due to the small sample size to evaluate contextual effects. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00387166.

Associations between socioeconomic status and catecholamine levels vary by acculturation status in Mexican-American women.

BACKGROUND: Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with poorer health, possibly through activation of the sympathetic nervous system. PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the association between SES and catecholamine levels, and variations by acculturation. METHODS: Three hundred one Mexican-American women underwent examination with a 12-h urine collection. Analyses tested associations of SES, acculturation (language and nativity), and their interaction with norepinephrine (NOREPI) and epinephrine (EPI). RESULTS: No main effects for SES or the acculturation indicators emerged. Fully adjusted models revealed a significant SES by language interaction for NOREPI (p< .01) and EPI (p< .05), and a SES by nativity interaction approached significance for NOREPI (p= .05). Simple slope analyses revealed that higher SES related to lower catecholamine levels in Spanish-speaking women, and higher NOREPI in English-speaking women. Although nonsignificant, similar patterns were observed for nativity. CONCLUSIONS: Associations between SES and catecholamines may vary by acculturation, and cultural factors should be considered when examining SES health effects in Hispanics.