Association of acculturation with cardiac structure and function among Hispanics/Latinos: a cross-sectional analysis of the echocardiographic study of Latinos.

OBJECTIVE:Hispanics/Latinos, the largest immigrant population in the USA, undergo the process of acculturation and have a large burden of heart failure risk. Few studies have examined the association of acculturation on cardiac structure and function. DESIGN:Cross-sectional. SETTING:The Echocardiographic Study of Latinos. PARTICIPANTS:1818 Hispanic adult participants with baseline echocardiographic assessment and acculturation measured by the Short Acculturation Scale, nativity, age at immigration, length of US residence, generational status and language. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES:Echocardiographic assessment of left atrial volume index (LAVI), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), early diastolic transmitral inflow and mitral annular velocities. RESULTS:The study population was predominantly Spanish-speaking and foreign-born with mean residence in the US of 22.7 years, mean age of 56.4 years; 50% had hypertension, 28% had diabetes and 44% had a body mass index &gt;30 kg/m2. Multivariable analyses demonstrated higher LAVI with increasing years of US residence. Foreign-born and first-generation participants had higher E/e' but lower LAVI and e' velocities compared with the second generation. Higher acculturation and income &gt;20K were associated with higher LVMI, LAVI and E/e' but lower e' velocities. Preferential Spanish-speakers with an income <20K had a higher E/e'. CONCLUSIONS:Acculturation was associated with abnormal cardiac structure and function, with some effect modification by socioeconomic status

Hostility and quality of life among Hispanics/Latinos in the HCHS/SOL Sociocultural Ancillary Study

The purpose of this study was to determine if hostility is associated with physical and mental health-related quality of life (QoL) in U.S. Hispanics/Latinos after accounting for depression and anxiety

Childhood Trauma and Adult Risk Factors and Disease in Hispanics/Latinos in the US: Results From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sociocultural Ancillary Study

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are implicated in diseases of adulthood. We report the prevalence of ACEs in Hispanics/Latinos in the US and their association with major risk factors and diseases in adulthood

Propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Medida do Estado Atual (MOCS) em pacientes mexicanos com câncer

Background: Cancer is a public health problem, and stress is one of the psychosocial variables associated to this disease, which calls for the need to have a reliable scale to measures stress in the Hispanic population with cancer. Objective: To determine the psychometric properties of the Measurement of Current Status (MOCS) Scale in Mexican cancer patients. Method: Study design: Cross-sectional, non-experimental instrumental. A total of 197 patients aged 18-81 years, at any clinical stage, receiving cancer treatment or follow-up were included. Instruments: MOCS and emotional distress thermometer. Statistical analysis: Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to evaluate the fit of the model to the data using the maximum likelihood estimation and cut-off points. Results: Two models were obtained. The first, self-perceived current state, had an alpha of .90 with an explained variance of 74.2 %; the second, non-specific effect, with an alpha of .61 and an explained variance of 74.3 %. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that both models had indexes suggesting stability and acceptable adjustment. Scores are shown by interquartile ranges for each model. Conclusions: The Mexican version of the MOCS is reliable and valid; with a confirmatory factor structure similar to the original version. Therefore, we support its use in the clinical and research setting with cancer patients.Antecedentes: El cáncer es un problema de salud pública, una de las variables psicosociales en relación con esta enfermedad es el estrés, por tanto es necesario tener una escala que mida el estrés en población hispana con cáncer. Objetivo: Determinar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Medida del Estado Actual (MOCS, por sus igla en inglés) en pacientes mexicanos con cáncer. Método: Estudio transversal, instrumental no experimental. Participaron 197 pacientes de 18 a 81 años, de cualquier etapa clínica, en tratamiento o seguimiento del cáncer. Instrumentos: MOCS y termómetro de malestar emocional. Análisis estadísticos: análisis factorial confirmatorio para evaluar el ajuste del modelo a los datos mediante el método de máxima verosimilitud y puntos de corte. Resultados: Se obtuvieron dos modelos, el primero, estado actual autopercibido, con un alfa de .90 varianza explicada de 74.2 %, el segundo, efectos inespecíficos, con un alfa de .61 varianza explicada de 74.3 %. El análisis factorial confirmatorio mostró que ambos modelos tuvieron índices que sugieren estabilidad, ajuste aceptable, se muestran puntajes mediante rangos intercuartílicos para cada modelo. Conclusiones: la versión mexicana del MOCS tiene confiabilidad y validez, su estructura factorial confirmatoria es similar a la versión original. Se recomienda su uso en la práctica clínica e investigación en pacientes con cáncer.Antecedentes: O câncer é um problema de saúde pública, uma das variáveis psicossociais relacionadas a essa doença é o estresse, portanto, é necessário ter uma escala que meça o estresse na população hispânica com câncer. Objetivo: Determinar as propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Medição do Estado Atual (MOCS) em pacientes mexicanos com câncer. Método: Desenho do estudo: transversal, instrumental, não experimental. Participaram 197 pacientes com idades entre 18 e 81 anos, em qualquer estágio clínico, em tratamento ou acompanhamento do câncer. Instrumentos: MOCS e Termômetro de desconforto emocional. Análises estatísticas: análise fatorial confirmatória para avaliar o ajuste do modelo aos dados por meio do método de máxima verossimilhança e pontos de corte. Resultados: Foram obtidos dois modelos, o primeiro estado atual autopercebido com um alfa de 0,90 variância explicada de 74,2 %, o segundo efeito inespecífico com um alfa de 0,61 variância explicada de 74,3 %; a análise fatorial confirmatória mostrou que ambos os modelos tiveram índices que sugerem estabilidade, ajuste aceitável e são demonstradas pontuações por meio de intervalos interquartis para cada modelo. Conclusões: a versão mexicana do MOCS tem confiabilidade e validade; sua estrutura fatorial confirmatória é semelhante à versão original. É recomendado para prática clínica e pesquisa em pacientes com câncer

Binge drinking and perceived ethnic discrimination among Hispanics/Latinos: Results from the Hispanic community health study/study of Latinos sociocultural ancillary study

The study assessed whether overall perceived ethnic discrimination and four unique discrimination types were associated with binge drinking in participants from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) who also completed the HCHS/SOL Sociocultural Ancillary Study (n = 5,313). In unadjusted analyses that were weighted for sampling strategy and design, each unit increase in discrimination type was associated with a 12 - 63% increase in odds of binge drinking; however, after adjusting for important demographic variables including age, sex, heritage group, language, and duration of US residence, there was no longer an association between discrimination and binge drinking. Further research still needs to identify the salient factors that contribute to increased risk for binge drinking among Hispanics/Latinos

The Role of Stress in Understanding Differences in Sedentary Behavior in Hispanic/Latino Adults: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study

Chronic stress and/or lifetime traumatic stress can create a self-reinforcing cycle of unhealthy behaviors, such as overeating and sedentary behavior, that can lead to further increases in stress. This study examined the relationship between stress and sedentary behavior in a sample of Hispanic/Latino adults (N = 4244) from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study

Association of self-reported physical activity with obstructive sleep apnea: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

We examined associations of mild and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; apnea-hypopnea index ≥5 and ≥15, respectively) with recommended amounts of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) or vigorous physical activity (VPA) and by type of activity (i.e., recreational, transportation, and work activity). The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a multicenter population-based study, enrolled individuals from 2008 to 2011 from four U.S. metropolitan areas (Bronx, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; San Diego, California). Participants in this study included 14,206 self-identified Hispanic/Latino ages 18 to 74 years from theHCHS/SOL. Survey logistic regression analysis was used to compute odds ratios [OR] and 95% confidence intervals [CI], adjusting for sociodemographics, smoking status, and body mass index (BMI). Relative to being inactive, performing some MVPA (>0 to <150 minutes/week) or meeting the recommended MVPA (≥150 minutes/week) were associated with lower odds of mild OSA (ORs and 95% CIs 0.70 [0.61-0.82] and 0.76 [0.63-0.91], respectively), as well as moderate to severe OSA (ORs and 95% CIs 0.76 [0.62-0.93] and 0.76 [0.59-0.98], respectively). Associations of VPA with OSA were not significant. Engaging in medium or high levels of transportation activity was associated with lower odds of mild OSA (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.74-0.96; OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.43-0.95, respectively). Performing some recreational MVPA was associated with lower likelihood of mild and moderate to severe OSA (OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.71-0.93; OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64-0.97, respectively). Health promotion and OSA prevention efforts should encourage individuals to engage in at least some MVPA

Perceptions of Cancer Risk/Efficacy and Cancer-Related Risk Behaviors : Results From the HCHS/SOL Sociocultural Ancillary Study

This study evaluated the associations among perceived risk, perceived efficacy, and engagement in six cancer-related risk behaviors in a population-based Hispanic/Latino sample. Interviews were conducted with 5,313 Hispanic/Latino adults as part of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sociocultural Ancillary Study. Participants were recruited from the study's four field centers (Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; San Diego, CA) between February 2010 and June 2011. Perceived risk and perceived efficacy were assessed with questions drawn from the Health Interview National Trends Survey. More than half of the sample endorsed perceived risk of cancer associated with the six evaluated behaviors, as well as general perceived efficacy for preventing cancer. Adjusted logistic regression analyses demonstrated significant differences across Hispanic/Latino background groups for perceived risk associated with high consumption of alcohol and saturated fat, low consumption of fruits and vegetables, and insufficient exercise but not with smoking or low consumption of fiber. Differences were also found for the belief, "It seems like everything causes cancer" but not for other perceived efficacy items. Perceived cancer risk and perceived efficacy for preventing cancer were neither independently nor interactively associated with engagement in cancer-related risk behaviors after controlling for sociodemographic covariates. Results suggest that perceptions of risk and efficacy with regard to cancer vary across Hispanic/Latino background groups, and therefore background group differences should be considered in prevention efforts. Perceived risk and perceived efficacy were not related to cancer-related risk behaviors among Hispanics/Latinos. Further work is needed to evaluate determinants of cancer-related risk in this population

Analytical and biological variability in biomarker measurement in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Biomarker variability, which includes within-individual variability (CVI), between-individual variability (CVG) and methodological variability (CVP+A) is an important determinant of our ability to detect biomarker-disease associations. Estimates of CVI and CVG may be population specific and little data exists on biomarker variability in diverse Hispanic populations. Hence, we evaluated all 3 components of biomarker variability in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) using repeat blood collections (n=58) and duplicate blood measurements (n = 761 – 929 depending on the biomarker)