Use of selected high‐fat foods by Hispanic adults in the Northeastern US

Objective. To add to the limited information of dietary fat intake of US Hispanic adults, in particular for subgroups other than Mexican Americans.

Methods. The frequency of eating 13 high‐fat food items commonly consumed in the US was examined in 665 Hispanic adults 20–74 years old in Connecticut and Long Island, New York, sampled from Spanish‐surname telephone listings and surveyed by telephone in 1992.

Results. Mean estimated fat intake from the 13 items was significantly greater for the 357 men than the 308 women; the largest gender differences were for hamburgers/ cheeseburgers and French fries. Whole milk was an important contributor to the fat intake of persons with the highest fat intakes. In multiple linear regression analyses, age (negative association) and gender, but not education and acculturation (based on language spoken, read and written), were statistically significant predictors of fat intake from the 13 items.

Conclusions. Longitudinal studies using diet diaries are needed in these Hispanic populations.     

Use of a Water Filter at Home Reduces Sugary Drink Consumption among Parents and Infants/Toddlers in a Predominantly Hispanic Community: Results from the Water Up!@ Home Intervention Trial

BackgroundWater is recommended as an alternative for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Low-income, minority groups in the United States continue to exhibit high SSB and low water consumption, and are more likely to exceed 100% fruit juice recommendations.ObjectiveTo test the effects of a home-based intervention designed to replace SSBs with tap water and reduce excess juice consumption among parents and their infants/toddlers.DesignRandomized controlled trial.ParticipantsParents (n = 92) of infants/toddlers who participated in three Early Head Start home-visiting programs that serve predominantly Hispanic, low-income communities during 2019-2021.InterventionThe 12-week intervention (Water Up!@Home) simultaneously addressed physical barriers to tap water consumption (via a water filter) and sociocultural barriers to replacing SSBs and juice with water (via a curriculum). Comparison group received a water filter only. We hypothesized that the intervention would lead to a reduction of 6 fl oz/d in SSB and juice consumption.Main outcomesParent-reported self and infant/toddler SSBs, water (filtered, tap, or bottled), and 100% fruit juice consumption.Statistical analysesAnalysis of covariance to compare changes in consumption between experimental groups was performed. We also conducted t tests to assess changes within groups.ResultsParticipants in both groups reported significant reductions in SSBs from baseline (parents: intervention [–11.2 fl oz/d; P < 0.01]; comparison [–8.0 fl oz/d; P < 0.01]; children: intervention [–1.50 fl oz/d; P = 0.03]; comparison [–1.56 fl oz/d; P = 0.02]), increased water consumption (parents in both groups [+5.6 fl oz/d]; children: intervention [+3.61 fl oz/d; P = 0.01], comparison [+2.24 fl oz/d; P = 0.05]), mostly from filtered tap water. Differences between groups were not statistically significant. Intervention participants reported significant reductions in 100% fruit juice vs comparison (parents: –3.6 fl oz/d vs –1.0 fl oz/d; P < 0.01; children: –0.73 fl oz/d vs +0.48 fl oz/d; P = .03).ConclusionsThe intervention effectively reduced 100% fruit juice consumption. Water security should be examined as a contributor to SSB consumption in this population.     

Alcohol misuse,depressive symptoms,and HIV/STI risks of US Hispanic women

Objectives: Alcohol misuse and depressive symptoms have been linked to HIV/STI risk, but studies have rarely included Hispanic women, who have over four times greater HIV incidence than white, non-Hispanic women. Understanding the connections among alcohol misuse, depressive symptoms, and HIV/STI risks may suggest ways to meet specific needs of Hispanic women. This study’s objective is to examine the relationships among alcohol misuse, depressive symptoms, and seven HIV/STI risk factors.

Design: Five hundred forty-eight US Hispanic women with intake data from a randomized trial were assessed for alcohol misuse (CAGE) and depressive symptoms (CES-D). GZLM and path analyses tested relationships between alcohol misuse or depressive symptoms and HIV/STI risk factors.

Results: Self-efficacy and condom use were not related to alcohol misuse or depressive symptoms, but only 15% of women reported consistent condom use. After controlling for demographics, women with alcohol misuse had significantly more perceived HIV/STI risk (OR?=?2.15) and better HIV/STI knowledge (β?=??.54); and women with depressive symptoms had significantly more perceived HIV/STI risk (OR?=?1.76) and worse HIV/STI knowledge (β?=?.37).

Conclusions: Interventions to increase condom use for Hispanic women are needed, regardless of mental disorders. Working with Hispanic women with alcohol misuse or depressive symptoms presents a need (and opportunity) to address issues directly related to HIV/STI risk. Women’s health practitioners have an excellent opportunity to reach women by implementing regular screening programs in clinics that serve Hispanic women. For women with high depressive symptoms, poor HIV/STI knowledge should also be addressed. Future studies should test whether integrated and tailored risk reduction interventions affect these factors and lower HIV/STI risk for Hispanic women.     

Two decades of pediatric kidney transplantation in a multi‐ethnic cohort

Muneeruddin S, Chandar J, Abitbol CL, Seeherunvong W, Freundlich M, Ciancio G, Burke GW, Zilleruelo G. Two decades of pediatric kidney transplantation in a multi‐ethnic cohort.
Pediatr Transplantation 2010: 14:667–674. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: This study evaluated a 20‐yr experience in kidney transplantation in children from a predominantly Hispanic community. A retrospective analysis was carried out in children who received kidney transplants from 1985 to 2005. Of 124 kidney transplants, 81 (65%) were from LD. Racial distribution was Hispanic (48%), followed by AA (24%) and Caucasian (26%). First yr allograft survival was similar in LD and DD and significantly better in LD until seven yr post transplant. eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m² at one yr post transplant was associated with a median allograft survival of 3.3 yr, compared to 16 yr in those with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m² (p < 0.0001). Graft loss in the first five yr was from non‐adherence, recurrence of disease, and infections. Those of AA race were more likely to receive a DD and have low socioeconomic status and the poorest median allograft survival compared to Hispanics and Caucasians (6 vs. ≥15 yr; p < 0.001). In conclusion, this predominantly Hispanic cohort emphasizes the disadvantaged profile of AAs compared to other racial groups. Strategies to improve supportive services and living donations in minority populations need to be developed. Long‐term renal allograft survival is achievable if GFR is maintained >60 mL/min/1.73 m².     

Systemic lupus erythematosus in Hispanics

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a serious autoimmune disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality. It is also a disease for which several clinical differences among ethnic groups have been documented. Until recently, Hispanics, as separate patient cohort, had not been included in these studies. As a result, there is currently little information concerning its characteristics both at the clinical and at the molecular levels. With the currently available data, we can ascertain that this population exhibits considerable heterogeneity, in which some genetic mutations have been detected that may confer greater susceptibility and/or protection against the disease. The important differences in the clinical manifestations include a higher rate of renal complications as well as greater mortality. The latter may be due, at least in part, to lower socio-economic levels and inappropriate access to health care. However, given the limited data available that have focused on potential molecular mechanisms that may affect the Hispanic population affected with lupus, we cannot conclude that all the differences in disease outcome, complications, and severity that affect this patient population may be due to sociological factors. We conclude that more research is required to evaluate potential genetic and molecular factors that affect Hispanic lupus patients.     

"Diabetes is my companion": lifestyle and self-management among good and poor control Mexican diabetic patients

This paper identifies naturally occurring lifestyle and self-care practices in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus that are associated with good glycemic control. In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted in Guadalajara, Mexico, with 31 matched pairs of good and poor control diabetic patients (n=62), who were matched on their duration of disease and use of medications. While many themes were listed by both groups, a comparison of the responses indicated that themes of daily exercise with a preference for walking, eating beef and milk rather than chicken and fish, economic issues, and emotional issues distinguished poor-control patients. Good-control patients were more likely to have a negative reaction to their initial diagnosis, take a more comprehensive approach to control, eat only two meals a day (plus snacks), use noncaloric beverages to satisfy desires for more food, and know what their blood sugar levels should be.     

Ethnic comparison of attitudes and beliefs about cigarette smoking

OBJECTIVE: To determine if hypothesized differences in attitudes and beliefs about cigarette smoking between Latino and non-Latino white smokers are independent of years of formal education and number of cigarettes smoked per day. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey using a random digit dial telephone method. SETTING: San Francisco census tracts with at least 10% Latinos in the 1990 Census. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred twelve Latinos (198 men and 114 women) and 354 non-Latino whites (186 men and 168 women), 18 to 65 years of age, who were current cigarette smokers participated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Self-reports of cigarette smoking behavior, antecedents to smoking, reasons to quit smoking, and reasons to continue smoking were the measures. Latino smokers were younger (36.6 vs 39.6 years, p<.01), had fewer years of education (11.0 vs 14.3 years, p<.001), and smoked on average fewer cigarettes per day (9.7 vs 20.1, p<.001). Compared with whites, Latino smokers were less likely to report smoking “almost always or often” after 13 of 17 antecedents (each p<.001), and more likely to consider it important to quit for 12 of 15 reasons (each p<.001). In multivariate analyses after adjusting for gender, age, education, income, and number of cigarettes smoked per day, Latino ethnicity was a significant predictor of being less likely to smoke while talking on the telephone (odds ratio [OR] 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26, 0.64), drinking alcoholic beverages (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.44, 0.99), after eating (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37, 0.81), or at a bar (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41, 0.94), and a significant predictor of being more likely to smoke at a party (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.14, 2.60). Latino ethnicity was a significant predictor of considering quitting important because of being criticized by family (OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.26, 2.98), burning clothes (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.02, 2.42), damaging children’s health (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.08, 2.57), bad breath (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.40, 3.06), family pressure (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.10, 2.60), and being a good example to children (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.21, 2.76). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in attitudes and beliefs about cigarette smoking between Latinos and whites are independent of education and number of cigarettes smoked. We recommend that these ethnic differences be incorporated into smoking cessation interventions for Latino smokers. Supported by Public Health Service grant CA39260 awarded by the National Cancer Institute and by grant HS07373-01 from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Dr. Pérez-Stable was a Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Faculty Scholar in general internal medicine.