REPORTER: This is NHLBI Research Radio. I’m Greg Lavine.

From the Salsa and the Cha Cha to the Mambo and the Merengue, the dance styles favored by different Hispanic and Latino communities often reflect the diverse cultures of these unique populations. This segment of the U.S. population is diverse not only in culture, but also in the prevalence of several diseases, risk factors, and lifestyle habits. A recent report from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute highlights these differences.

The NHLBI, part of the National Institutes of Health, released the first Data Book from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. This landmark study enrolled more than 16,000 Hispanic/Latino adults living in San Diego, Chicago, Miami, and the Bronx, N.Y. Study participants identified themselves as having origins stretching from South America to Mexico.

Dr. Larissa Aviles-Santa was NHLBI’s project director for HCHS/SOL. 

AVILES-SANTA: The main objective for the Hispanic Community Health Study was to understand the prevalence of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and its risk factors and also other chronic conditions, and in talking about the cardiovascular risk factors, let’s say obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking, we observed that these factors are widespread across different Hispanic groups.

REPORTER: Those involved in the study emphasize the importance of the study, given that the Hispanic community is among the fastest growing populations in the country. The researchers wanted to understand this diverse communities’ health status to better serve healthcare needs going forward

The need to identify the risk factors is clear. Within the study, 80 percent of men and 70 percent of women had at least one adverse risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Dr. Martha Daviglus of Northwestern University, was principal investigator on this study, is she is worried about those numbers.

DAVIGLUS: This could have, of course, devastating implications for future burden of cardiovascular disease as this currently is a relative young segment of the U.S. population, and when they get older the problems, or the burden, are going to be devastating for this country.  

REPORTER: Dr. Daviglus hopes that the study will help change that.

DAVIGLUS: We now know, for example, that one-third of participants have pre-diabetes. By educating and informing our participants, the Hispanic community and healthcare providers serving our communities through the sharing of this new data, we will be able to make better informed and educated choices about the health.

REPORTER: Jose, a Bronx retiree, was among the study participants. When we spoke with Jose, he told us participating in the study helped him learn about several health issues. His message to others in his community is clear.

JOSE: I would tell them the following: the first thing is that if you take care of your health before something drastic happens—what I mean by that is with time—the problem will be a lot easier to fix than if you let it go to the last moment.  This is why people—I’m speaking mostly senior citizens—should take care of their health.  

REPORTER: Individuals like Jose are key to the success of not only this study, but to all medical research. Dr. Daviglus, as a researcher, relies on people like Jose.

DAVIGLUS: I would like to emphasize the critical importance of the continued participation of SOL individuals for the success of the study because if they don’t participate, we are not successful. So, we would like also to encourage the Hispanic population to participate in biomedical research in general.  

REPORTER: The Data Book’s release is just one step on the long journey of this study. Phase 2 began in June 2013. And this October, researchers will re-visit the original study participants looking for changes and insights into risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Over the next several years, researchers hope to learn which lifestyle choices contribute to good health and which choices are harmful. 

Jose us he’s on board  to participate in the project’s next phase. He’s ready to talk to study staff about health issues… and other important topics.

JOSE: If you want to talk about baseball, you can call me. I’ll wait for your phone call when the Mets win in New York.

REPORTER: You’ve been listening to NHLBI Research Radio.