270844 Prevalence and Predictors of Type 2 Diabetes for Filipino Americans in the Northeast

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Rhodora Ursua, MPH , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Aimee Afable-Munsuz, PhD, MPH , Department of Community Health Sciences, SUNY Downstate School of Public Health, Brooklyn, NY
Laura Wyatt, MPH , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
David E. Aguilar, MA , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Potri Ranka Manis, RN , Kalusugan Coalition, Inc., Woodside, 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
Mariano Rey, MD , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPH , Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU Institute of Community Health and Research, New York, NY
Background: The published data on Filipino Americans (FAs) suggest that type 2 diabetes rates are up to 4 times higher than those among non-Hispanic whites in the U.S. However very few interventions address this health issue in this population. The burden of diabetes warrants attention given their rapid population growth in recent years.  

Objective/Purpose: To describe factors influencing diabetes risk in an Asian immigrant community in the Northeast.

Methods: Project AsPIRE is a community-based participatory research study aimed at improving health access and cardiovascular health status for FAs in NY and NJ through community health workers.  A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1624 FA participants screened for cardiovascular risk factors at community health screenings.  Chi-squared tests were conducted for demographic variables and diabetes status. Covariates include age, sex, insurance status, and length of stay in the U.S.

Results:  46% of FAs screened were uninsured, 68% female, and age was well distributed. Recent immigrants in the U.S. less than 5 years were less likely to be insured compared to their counterparts who were in the U.S. longer. (p<0.001). Overall diabetes prevalence was estimated to be 16%.  Strong correlations were found between increased length of stay in the U.S. and diabetes risk (p<0.001).  

Conclusion: The study observed a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes supporting earlier studies.  Interventions must target factors that lead to increased diabetes risk in this population, including factors associated with acculturation.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Epidemiology

Learning Objectives:
To describe factors influencing diabetes risk in an Asian immigrant community in the Northeast.

Keywords: Chronic Diseases, Access to Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have served as the Project Director for this CBPR study for the past 7 years.
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.

Back to: 2065.0: Epidemiology and disease prevention in API populations