Hispanics have higher death rates due to diabetes and the liver condition cirrhosis compared to whites, according to the first ever national study on Hispanic health risks and leading causes of death.
The study released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the two leading causes of death in Hispanics are heart disease and cancer, similar to whites.
While hispanics have lower death rates overall compared to whites, they are twice as likely to die from diabetes and liver problems as white Americans, said CDC Director Tom Frieden.
Health risks can vary by Hispanic subgroups. For instance, nearly 66 percent more Puerto Ricans smoke than Mexicans, CDC said.
“Hispanics are also nearly three times as likely to be uninsured as whites,” a CDC statement said. “Hispanics in the U.S. are on average nearly 15 years younger than whites, so taking steps now to prevent disease could mean longer, healthier lives for Hispanics.”
The study was based on recent census and health surveillance data among hispanics and whites.
The CDC recommended that healthcare professionals need to work with interpreters to eliminate language barriers when patients prefer to speak Spanish and counsel them on the risks of high blood pressure, diabetes, diet and cancer.
