Los Angeles Times examines 'Hispanic epidemiological paradox'

Aug 30 2006

The Los Angeles Times on Monday examined the "Hispanic epidemiological paradox," in which Latinos are healthier than expected based on their low levels of income and education.

Researchers first became aware of the trend in the 1970s and 1980s during examinations of infant and overall mortality rates in Texas and California.

Kyriakos Markides, a professor of socio-medical sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch who has studied the trend, said that at the time "people just ignored the data or assumed that disadvantaged populations have high mortality," adding that currently "it's the leading theme in the health of the Hispanic population in the United States."

According to a number of recent studies, based on infant and overall mortality rates, the health of Latinos is almost equivalent to, and in some cases exceeds, the health of whites.

Some experts maintain that Latinos who immigrate to the U.S. often are the healthiest of their populations, and others maintain that many of those who become seriously ill return to their home nations, a practice that can affect mortality rates.

In addition, some experts attribute the trend to the diets, lifestyle choices and strong social support networks of Latinos.

According to the Times, the "paradox remains controversial, in part because its first-blush message - that Latinos are less ill than expected - might lead people to believe that the group doesn't need scarce health care dollars."

In addition, some physicians and other medical professionals are not aware of the trend - "which is a broad statistical phenomenon, not necessarily true in individual cases or practices" - and "it seems to apply more to some diseases than to others," the Times reports (Chung, Los Angeles Times, 8/28).