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[PD-9] Lawrence Latino Health 2010 Program: Assessment of Diabetes and Associated Cardiovascular Disease in a Caribbean-Latino Population

Meeta Nguyen, MD, MPH, (G. Dean Cleghorn, EdD; Gilda Duran, MS), Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Lawrence, MA

Nguyen, M. (MD), Hernandez, A. (MD), Roberts, B. (MD), Duran, G. (MS), Cleghorn, GD. (EdD) Center for Health Improvement, 160 Garden Street, Lawrence, MA 01841

The prevalence of diabetes among Latinos in Lawrence is double (10.5%) that of the total Lawrence population (5.1%) and nearly three times that of the white population of Massachusetts (3.8%). Of the 34,000 Latinos in Lawrence, over 80% (28,126) are clients of Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC). From this population, 969 charts of adults were coded for diabetes and of these 146 records were reviewed by a physician. The rate for diabetes at the GLFHC was 6.3% (1759/27,810). The rate of diabetes stratified by ethnicity was as follows: Puerto Rican 10.3%, Dominican 7.7%, Other Hispanic 2.6% and Other Ethnicities 6.3%.

The average age of the chart review sample was 55 years. There were 29% males and 71% females. The ethnicity of this sample was 51% Dominican, 45% Puerto Rican, and 3% Other Latino. Microvascular complications included neuropathy , 22.6%, retinopathy ,25.3% , and nephropathy , 39.0%. The prevalence of macrovascular complications was: coronary artery disease, 16.4%, stroke, 6.8%, and peripheral vascular disease, 1.4%. One additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease besides diabetes was present for 92% of the sample. Hemoglobin A1c serum levels as a long-term indicator of diabetic control were less than 7% for only 25.6% of this population.

Our findings are consistent with other studies and the Healthy People 2010 document that indicate that Latinos are at risk for diabetes. Specifically, Caribbean Latinos are in need of culturally sensitive interventions for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Date: July 10-12, 2002

Location: Hilton Hotel & Towers, Washington, DC

Sponsor: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health / Office of Public Health and Science