Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between language and ideal cardiovascular health among Asian Americans and Latinos. DESIGN/STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study using 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of Asian Americans (n=2,009) and Latinos (n=3,906). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were classified according to language spoken at home (only/mostly English spoken, both English and native language spoken equally, or mostly/only native language spoken). OUTCOMES: Ideal, intermediate and poor cardiovascular health status for smoking, blood pressure, glucose level, and total cholesterol. RESULTS: The majority of Asian Americans and Latinos had ideal smoking status, but those who only/mostly spoke English were more likely to smoke compared with those who spoke only/mostly spoke their native language. Approximately one third of Asian Americans and Latinos had intermediate (ie, borderline or treated to goal) levels of cardiovascular health for blood pressure, glucose level and total cholesterol. In adjusted models, those who spoke only/mostly their native language were significantly less likely to have poor smoking or hypertension status than those who spoke only/mostly English. Among Latinos, only/mostly Spanish speakers were more likely to have poor/ intermediate glucose levels (PR=1.35, 95% CI =1.21, 1.49) than those who spoke only/ mostly English, becoming statistically non-significant after adjusting for education and income. CONCLUSION: We found significant variation in ideal cardiovascular health attainment by language spoken at home in two of the largest immigrant groups in the United States. Findings suggest the need for language and culturally tailored public health and clinical initiatives to reduce cardiovascular risk in diverse populations.