Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in the Hispanic/Latino Population
The Hispanic/Latino population in the United States is a heterogeneous group representing the largest minority racial/ethnic subgroup in the United States. The Hispanic/Latino population in the United States includes individuals from many racial and cultural backgrounds. The largest Hispanic/Latino heritage subgroup in the United States is from Mexico. However, heritage subgroups from the Caribbean region (Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico) and Central and South America represent growing subgroups. Historically, epidemiologic data and research pertaining to cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Hispanic/Latino population in the United States have focused mainly on the Mexican heritage subgroup. With the increasing diversity in the Hispanic/Latino population, emerging data are providing valuable information that further enhances our understanding of the differences in cardiovascular risk factors by Hispanic/Latino heritage subgroups. In this chapter, we summarize the recent and currently available information pertaining to cardiovascular risk factors including metabolic syndrome, hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and obesity in this heterogeneous segment of the US population.
