Cardiovascular disease tops cancer as leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in U.S.

Cardiovascular disease has surpassed cancer as the leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in the United States, according to a peer-reviewed scientific statement from the American Heart Association published in Circulation. The statement attributes the shift in part to rising prevalence of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other risk factors that often begin earlier in life for Hispanic people. It also emphasizes that biology alone cannot explain the disparities: access to healthcare, language services, healthy food environments, environmental exposures, opportunities for physical activity and other social conditions shape cardiovascular health alongside clinical risk factors.

The statement focuses on Hispanic adults as a broad but highly diverse population, representing nearly one in five people in the United States. It documents differences among people of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central American and South American heritage, as well as between U.S.-born and foreign-born adults. Writing-group chair Johanna Contreras, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, said the diversity in genetic ancestry, language, cultural traditions and social experiences means there is no single approach that will fit every Hispanic community. The authors also note that Hispanic people remain underrepresented in cardiovascular research that guides prevention and treatment strategies.

Cardiovascular risk factors are common among Hispanic adults and, according to the statement, emerge at younger ages and occur more frequently than among white adults. Nearly 46% have obesity, with the highest reported rates among Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage groups. Type 2 diabetes affects 15.5% of Hispanic adults, nearly twice the prevalence among white adults, and is most prevalent among Mexican and Puerto Rican individuals. About 44% have high blood pressure, while awareness, treatment and control remain less common than among white adults; prevalence is highest among Puerto Rican, Cuban and Dominican adults.

These disparities are reflected in earlier cardiovascular events. Hispanic adults are diagnosed with heart failure about eight to nine years younger than white adults and, on average, experience a first stroke six to eight years younger, at age 67 compared with 73 to 75 among white adults. U.S.-born Hispanic adults also have shorter life expectancy and higher death rates from heart disease and stroke than their foreign-born counterparts, a difference the report associates with the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. Only about one in five Hispanic adults meets the American Heart Association’s original Life’s Simple 7 definition of ideal cardiovascular health, and analyses using its updated Life’s Essential 8 framework show persistent disparities in heart and brain health.

Diet, sleep and physical activity add further concerns. Fewer than 2% of Hispanic adults meet recommended sodium-intake goals, and fewer than 10% meet recommendations for healthy fats. U.S.-born Hispanic adults more commonly consume ultraprocessed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages. Approximately one-third report sleeping fewer than seven hours per night, with short sleep most prevalent among people of Puerto Rican background. Nearly one-third report no moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity, the highest rate among the nation’s racial and ethnic groups. The statement links inadequate sleep with obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, while noting that diet and activity are shaped by food environments, work conditions and opportunities for safe exercise.

Structural barriers compound the clinical burden. Approximately 17% of Hispanic people live below the federal poverty threshold, compared with 8.2% of white adults, and Hispanic adults earn less at comparable education levels. Low or limited health literacy is reported by about 41% of all Hispanic adults and 66% of older Hispanic adults, compared with 9% of white adults; this can affect how people understand medical information and navigate healthcare systems. In 2023, about 20% of Hispanic adults remained uninsured, compared with 6.4% of white adults and 9.8% of Black adults. Contreras said limited insurance, language differences, food insecurity, environmental exposures and concerns related to immigration status can hinder prevention, chronic-disease management and timely treatment.

Family and community networks can be important sources of support, but they may also affect how health information is received and used. Contreras said relatives are often asked to translate medical information, navigate health systems and help make healthcare decisions for loved ones. She said trusted networks can sometimes become channels for health misinformation, making accurate and culturally relevant communication essential. The statement’s proposed responses include partnering with churches, markets, community centers and Spanish-language media platforms; providing bilingual health education and culturally responsive clinical care; and expanding the use of community health workers to support prevention and treatment. These are strategies identified in the scientific statement, not results from a new intervention trial.

Greater representation in research is also central to the proposed action plan. The authors call for more Hispanic participation in cardiovascular studies, including research involving artificial intelligence, and for collection of more detailed data about different Hispanic heritage groups. Contreras said more detailed data collection and reporting are essential for understanding community-specific risks, strengths and healthcare needs. Without better representation, the authors warn that important differences may be overlooked. The statement also calls for greater attention to policies and social conditions that shape health, including access to healthy foods, safe places for physical activity and effective communication with healthcare providers. Contreras said awareness of disparities is insufficient without access, requiring action across clinical, research and policy levels.

The scientific statement synthesizes evidence about cardiovascular disease and stroke among Hispanic and Latino adults in the United States; it does not report a new clinical trial or test a specific intervention. It outlines what is known about traditional risk factors and the social and structural barriers that influence health, while identifying areas that need additional research. Prepared by a volunteer writing committee on behalf of several American Heart Association scientific councils, the document is intended to promote awareness and inform healthcare decisions. As a scientific statement, it does not make treatment recommendations; the association issues its official clinical practice recommendations separately through its guidelines. The authors argue that collaboration among healthcare systems, researchers, policymakers, community organizations and families will be necessary as the Hispanic population grows and ages.

Subject of Research: Cardiovascular disease, stroke and health disparities among Hispanic adults in the United States

Article Title: Cardiovascular disease tops cancer as leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in U.S.

Article References: Cardiovascular disease tops cancer as leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in U.S.. Original publication (Bibliographic details unavailable.)

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Keywords: Hispanic health, cardiovascular disease, leading causes of death, heart failure, stroke, health disparities, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, healthcare access, Cardiovascular, disease