The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41006

Nidu Philips, PhD¹, Deborah N. Pearlman, PhD², Brian Bradbury, MPH¹, Cynthia Boddie-Willis³, and Van, Thi Hoang Pham, MD, MPH⁴. (1) Division of Community Health Promotion, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-5542, nidu.philips@state.ma.us, (2) Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research, Brown University, Box G - B 213, Providence, RI 02912, (3) Bureau of Family and Community Health, MASS Department of Public Health, Mass. Dept. of Public Health, 250 Washington Street -4th Floor, Boston, MA 02108, (4) MCH/FP Department, Ministry of Health, 138 A Giang Vo, Ha Noi, Vietnam

Vietnamese are the fastest growing Southeast Asian group in Massachusetts but little is known about the prevalence of hypertension, heart disease, or diabetes in this population. We surveyed Vietnamese living in Worcester, Massachusetts (n=550) and compared self-reported survey data on the prevalence of chronic illnesses and associated risk behaviors with findings for respondents in the 1999-2000 Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance surveys (BRFSS). Among Vietnamese age 40 and older, 94.6% had health care insurance and 88% had a regular source of care. Vietnamese did not differ from BRFSS respondents in prevalence of hypertension (30.9%vs 31%) or heart disease (7.4%vs 8.6%), but did have a higher prevalence of diabetes than that reported for BRFSS respondents (12.9% vs. 8.0%). Data from biomedical screenings revealed that among Vietnamese previously undiagnosed with hypertension or heart disease, 15%(n=26) had high BP (BP> 140 mm Hg/ > 90 mm Hg) and 43.5% (n=71) had high cholesterol (> 200 mg/dl). Among those who reported no known history of diabetes, 10.8% (n=20) had high blood glucose (140mg/dl). Vietnamese diagnosed with high blood pressure or high cholesterol were no more likely than those with these conditions to know the lifestyle changes than can reduce the risk for developing a chronic disease. Our results suggest that access to health care does not necessarily translate into being screened routinely for chronic illnesses. Culturally appropriate health education about preventive health screenings and modifiable lifestyle practices associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes are needed.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Define the burden of chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, or diabetes in the Vietnamese community of Massachusetts.
• 2.Compare the prevalence of chronic diseases and related risk behaviors (diet, exercise, smoking) to the 1999-2000 Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance surveys (BRFSS).
• 3.Discuss and identify ways to reduce the burden of chronic conditions within the community and improve access to care.

Keywords: Chronic Diseases, Access to Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Community Health Promotion
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.