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Hispanic adults in the US face a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease — and a new AHA scientific statement says the system isn't doing enough about it. Published in Circulation, the statement highlights earlier disease onset, major access barriers, and the persistent myth of the "Hispanic paradox." It calls for culturally tailored prevention, language-concordant care, and greater inclusion of Hispanic patients in clinical research.
Hispanic adults in the US are developing heart disease earlier and dying from it at higher rates — yet they remain underserved, underrepresented in research, and often misunderstood by the healthcare system. A new American Heart Association scientific statement published in Circulation lays out the scope of the problem and urges urgent, culturally informed action.
The statement challenges the long-held "Hispanic paradox" — the outdated belief that Hispanic ethnicity is associated with lower CVD mortality — and emphasizes that Hispanic Americans are far from a monolithic group. Risk profiles vary significantly by country of origin, with Puerto Ricans more prone to hypertension, Cuban and Dominican adults more likely to have hypercholesterolemia and smoking histories, and Mexican Americans at higher risk for metabolic syndrome and early-onset diabetes.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Structural barriers — poverty, language gaps, immigration fears, and low health literacy — compound biological risk factors, making this a significant and underaddressed public health concern. The AHA is calling for community health workers, diverse clinical trial enrollment, and policy changes to close these dangerous gaps.
