Identifying the Social Determinants of Treated Hypertension in New and Established Latino Destination States

J Immigr Minor Health. 2023 Feb;25(1):50-61. doi: 10.1007/s10903-022-01376-y. Epub 2022 Jul 6.

Abstract

Little is known about the influence of social and environmental contexts on Latino hypertension-related disparities. This study examined the influence of social determinants of cardiovascular health on medically treated hypertension, contrasting established vs. new Latino destination states. Logistic regression models were fitted to analyze 2017 Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey data from 8,999 Latinos. Overall, 70.4% indicated having treated hypertension. History of diabetes (OR = 2.60) and access to healthcare (OR = 2.38) were associated with treated hypertension, regardless of destination state. In established destinations, Latinos who graduated high school (OR = 1.19) or attended college (OR = 1.32) had higher odds of treated hypertension; whereas those who completed college were less likely to have treated hypertension (OR = 0.80). In contrast, in both new and non-destination states, the odds of treated hypertension were consistently lower across levels of educational attainment. Results highlight the need for cardiovascular-risk reduction interventions to incorporate the social and environmental context in the development process.

Keywords: Hypertension treatment; Latino health disparities; New and established Latino destination states; Social determinants of health.

MeSH terms

  • Diabetes Mellitus* / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus* / therapy
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Hypertension* / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • United States / epidemiology