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. 2014 Aug;37(8):2233-9.
doi: 10.2337/dc13-2939.

Prevalence of diabetes among Hispanics/Latinos from diverse backgrounds: the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Neil Schneiderman  1 , Maria Llabre  2 , Catherine C Cowie  3 , Janice Barnhart  4 , Mercedes Carnethon  5 , Linda C Gallo  6 , Aida L Giachello  5 , Gerardo Heiss  7 , Robert C Kaplan  4 , Lisa M LaVange  8 , Yanping Teng  8 , Leonel Villa-Caballero  9 , M Larissa Avilés-Santa  10
Affiliations

Prevalence of diabetes among Hispanics/Latinos from diverse backgrounds: the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Neil Schneiderman et al. Diabetes Care. 2014 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: We examine differences in prevalence of diabetes and rates of awareness and control among adults from diverse Hispanic/Latino backgrounds in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

Research design and methods: The HCHS/SOL, a prospective, multicenter, population-based study, enrolled from four U.S. metropolitan areas from 2008 to 2011 16,415 18-74-year-old people of Hispanic/Latino descent. Diabetes was defined by either fasting plasma glucose, impaired glucose tolerance 2 h after a glucose load, glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C), or documented use of hypoglycemic agents (scanned medications).

Results: Diabetes prevalence varied from 10.2% in South Americans and 13.4% in Cubans to 17.7% in Central Americans, 18.0% in Dominicans and Puerto Ricans, and 18.3% in Mexicans (P < 0.0001). Prevalence related positively to age (P < 0.0001), BMI (P < 0.0001), and years living in the U.S. (P = 0.0010) but was negatively related to education (P = 0.0005) and household income (P = 0.0043). Rate of diabetes awareness was 58.7%, adequate glycemic control (A1C <7%, 53 mmol/mol) was 48.0%, and having health insurance among those with diabetes was 52.4%.

Conclusions: Present findings indicate a high prevalence of diabetes but considerable diversity as a function of Hispanic background. The low rates of diabetes awareness, diabetes control, and health insurance in conjunction with the negative associations between diabetes prevalence and both household income and education among Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S. have important implications for public health policies.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence (and SE) of diabetes related to length of residence in the U.S. or being born in the U.S. Data are weighted and age standardized using the 2010 U.S. population census.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence (and SE) of diabetes related to (A) education and (B) household income. Data are weighted and age standardized using 2010 U.S. population census.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Rate (and SE) of health insurance, diabetes awareness, and A1C control among diabetic participants with diabetes in three age groups. Data are weighted and age standardized using 2010 U.S. population census.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Fact Sheet: National Estimates and General Information on Diabetes and Prediabetes in the United States. Atlanta, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011
    1. U.S. Census Bureau Briefs The Hispanic Population. Washington, DC, U.S. Census Bureau, 2010
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Age-adjusted percentage of civilian, noninstitutionalized population with diagnosed diabetes, Hispanics, United States, 1997–2011 [article online], 2013. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/prev/national/figbyhispanic.htm Accessed 5 December 2013
    1. Lavange LM, Kalsbeek WD, Sorlie PD, et al. Sample design and cohort selection in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Ann Epidemiol 2010;20:642–649 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Pew Research Hispanic Trends Project. Hispanic population in select U.S. metropolitan areas [article online], 2011. Available from http://www.pewhispanic.org/2013/08/29hispanic-population-in-select-U-S-m... Accessed 29 August 2013

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