221103 Screening for diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol among Asian Americans in New York City

Monday, November 8, 2010

Laura Wyatt, MPH , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Nadia Islam, PhD , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Henrietta Ho-Asjoe, MPS , Research Group, General Human Outreach in the Community, Inc., Kew Gardens, NY
Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza, MPH , Coalition for Asian American Children & Families, New York, NY
Douglas Nam Le , New York Region, US Census Bureau, New York, NY
Rhodora Ursua, MPH , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPH , Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU Center for Study of Asian American Health, New York, NY
Mariano Rey, MD , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU Institute of Community Health and Research, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
Background/Significance: Asian Americans face considerable disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and have significantly higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol when compared to other races/ethnicities. Risk factors for CVD can go undetected if individuals fail to undergo regular screening exams. Objective/Purpose: To establish screening rates for diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension within Asian American communities in New York City (NYC); to determine factors related to a failure to complete screening exams. Methods: Community Health Needs and Resource Assessments (CHRNAs) were administered to 1307 Asian American individuals within 8 communities in NYC between 2004 and 2007 using community-based strategies. Groups were formed for each of the three screening tests to represent screened and unscreened individuals, and Chi-square tests assessed group differences. Significant variables will be placed into a logistic regression model in order to determine predictors of a failure to screen for hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Results: The CHRNAs found that 69% of individuals had undergone cholesterol screening, 79% had undergone cholesterol screening, and 63% had undergone diabetes screening. Rates differed by subgroup; for example, diabetes screening ranged from 40% among Vietnamese to 73% among Thai communities. Future analysis will detail outcomes by subgroups and will identify factors significantly related to screenings. Possible predictor variables include length of time in U.S., access to health care, socioeconomic status, and Asian subgroup. Discussion/Conclusions: We will further understand factors related to CVD screening within Asian American communities in NYC. Using this information, we can design better disease prevention strategies within these subgroups.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Assess screening rates for diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension among Asian Americans in New York City. Identify factors that relate to a lack of screening for diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension among Asian Americans in New York City.

Keywords: Asian Americans, Chronic Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I conduct research for programs focused on disease prevention and health promotion in Asian American communities
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.