Cardiovascular Disease in the US-Mexico Border Region

Objective: To examine prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors in the US-Mexico border region.

Method: We combined data from the 2000-2003 years of the US National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which produced 5,139 interviews with adults aged 18 or more years for the border area alone.

Results: At ages 45-64, the prevalence of self-reported heart disease for the Border (6.2%) was lower than for non-border residents (6.8%), and the overall US (8.1%). 22% of Border Hispanics had been diagnosed with high blood pressure, compared to non-Hispanics (20%), a difference that was not statistically significant. Compared to non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks with hypertension, Mexican-Americans with high blood pressure were less aware of their condition, a smaller percentage was under treatment, and a lower proportion had their blood pressure under control. The current smoking rate among Border Hispanics (15.5%) was lower than among non-Hispanics (19.1 %), although this difference was not statistically significant. At the border, Hispanic (28.7%) were significantly more likely to be obese than non-Hispanics (17.6%). In addition, more than half (54 %) of all Hispanics and 36 % of non-Hispanics reported no leisure-time activity.

Conclusion: Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of illness in the border region and risk factors are prevalent. Improvement in monitoring and management of cardiovascular disease and risk factors in the border region is needed to reduce deaths and disabilities due to cardiovascular disease.