Cardiovascular Risk Factor Knowledge among Monolingual Hispanics

J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2021;32(2):688-699. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2021.0098.

Abstract

Hispanics in the United States have worse cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor profiles than non-Hispanic Whites. Cardiovascular health literacy is important for health promotion but is not well characterized among monolingual Spanish-speaking Hispanics outside of health care settings. We recruited Hispanic participants (N=235) from a community-based health fair in Denver, Colorado. A total of 182 participants (77%) completed a subsequent language-congruent telephone survey to assess CVD risk-factor knowledge. Of these, 174 self-identified as monolingual Spanish-speaking, and constituted the analysis cohort. Cardiovascular disease risk knowledge score was defined as the number of established risk factors an individual participant could name (out of 10 pre-specified), and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to determine factors independently associated with knowledge. The mean knowledge score for the cohort was 2.2 ± 1.1 out of 10. This suggests an unmet need for tailored educational interventions beyond simple screening events.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular Diseases*
  • Health Literacy*
  • Heart Disease Risk Factors
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • United States / epidemiology