Cardiovascular disease risk factors among Latino farmworkers in Oregon

Abstract

Purpose: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death among Latinos in the United States. The present study examines the prevalence of four CVD risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity) in a large sample of Latino farmworkers in Oregon.

Methods: We pooled secondary, cross-sectional data from Latino vineyard and winery farmworkers (n = 3382), in the north Willamette valley, Oregon, between 2004 and 2012. Prevalence was estimated for the four CVD risk factors under study. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between CVD risk factors, sex, and other sociodemographic factors.

Results: Hypercholesterolemia (21.6%) and obesity (22.8%) were the most prevalent CVD risk factors among Latino farmworker participants. In multivariable analyses, men and women, aged 45-64 years, were more likely to have all four CVD risk factors than those aged 18-44. Living in the United States for ten years or more was associated with higher odds of hypertension (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.17-2.54), and obesity (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.57-2.76) among Latino farmworker men. Among Latino farmworker women, living in the United States for ten years or more increased the odds of obesity (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.07-3.06).

Conclusions: Our findings highlight the higher prevalence of CVD risk factors among Latino farmworkers and the need to address CVD risk factors in this population.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease risk factors; Farmworkers; Health disparities; Latinos; Rural.