Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease: Knowledge Gained from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2023 Nov;25(11):785-793. doi: 10.1007/s11883-023-01152-9. Epub 2023 Sep 29.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) has made important contributions on the prevalence of and factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among diverse Hispanic/Latino adults in the US. This article summarizes the knowledge gained thus far on major CVD risk factors from this landmark study.

Recent findings: HCHS/SOL demonstrated the sizeable burdens of CVD risk in all major Hispanic/Latino groups in the US, as well as the marked variations in prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity, and smoking by sex and background. It also identified sociodemographic, lifestyle, and sociocultural characteristics associated with risk factors. HCHS/SOL has yielded an expanding body of literature on characteristics associated with adverse CVD risk factors in this population. Long-term follow-up of this cohort will shed further light on the observed heterogeneity in CVD risk across Hispanic/Latino groups and identify specific risk/protective factors driving these variations.

Keywords: Cardiovascular risk factors; Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos; Hispanic/Latinos.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

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