Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118013

Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD, Department of Preventive Medicine & Community Health, University of Texas, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0460 and Karl Eschbach, PhD, Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., 3.222 Jennie Sealy Rte 0460, Galveston, TX 77555-0460, 409/747-3516, kaeschba@utmb.edu.

Background: The Hispanic advantage of lower mortality compared to non-Hispanic Whites continues to puzzle epidemiologists. Immigrant Hispanics have generally lower mortality rates than Hispanics born in the United States. We investigated the Hispanic and immigrant advantage by comparing cause-specific mortality rates for immigrant Hispanics, U.S.-born Hispanics, and non-Hispanic Whites for younger adults.

Data and Methods: Vital registration data for the state of California for the years 1999-2000 were linked to population denominators from the 2000 census. We calculated age-standardized cause-specific death rates. We applied the immigrant cause-specific death rates to U.S.-born Hispanic and non-Hispanic White age structures, to identify excess causes of death in the latter groups.

Results: The death rate for non-Hispanic White males is 38% higher than the death rate for Hispanic immigrant males standardized to the White age structure; the standardized rate for U.S.-born Hispanics is 63% higher than that for immigrants. Immigrant Hispanic men have lower death rates than U.S.-born Hispanic men from nearly all causes of death except certain types of motor vehicle accidents. The leading contributors to excess mortality for U.S.-born Hispanics compared to immigrants are related to higher rates of drug abuse, homicide, and suicide. Comparisons of Hispanics to Whites present a more complex picture of offsetting advantages and disadvantages (Full results will be presented for men and women.)

Discussion: The results indicate that at younger ages for males, the Hispanic mortality advantage is explained by lower rates of high risk behaviors among immigrants. This advantage is not shared by U.S.-born Hispanics.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Assess the evidence for and against the Hispanic Paradox of lower all-cause mortality for Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
• Compare the mortality experiences of young adults who are immigrant Hispanics, U.S.-born Hispanics, and non-Hispanic Whites in California.
• Identify the specific causes of death that produce a mortality advantage for younger Hispanic immigrants.

Keywords: Hispanic, Mortality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation