What's Killing You

Hispanic and Latino Americans

Cancer

In 2002, Hispanic men were 16% less likely to have prostate cancer as non-Hispanic white men.
In 2002, Hispanic women were 39% less likely to have breast cancer as non-Hispanic white women.
Hispanic men and women have higher incidence and mortality rates for stomach and liver cancer.
In 2002, Hispanic women were 2.2 times as likely as non-Hispanic white women to be diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Diabetes

Mexican American adults were 2 times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
In 2002, Hispanics were 1.5 times as likely to start treatment for end-stage renal disease related to diabetes, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
In 2003 Hispanics were 1.5 times as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to die from diabetes.

Heart Disease

In 2004, Hispanics were 10% less likely to have heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
In 2003 Mexican American men were 30% less likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
Mexican American women were 1.2 times more likely than non-Hispanic white women to be obese.

HIV/AIDS

Hispanics accounted for 18% of HIV/AIDS cases in 2004.
Hispanic males had over 3 times the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white males.
Hispanic females had over 5 times the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white females.
Hispanic men were 2.7 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as non-Hispanic white men.
Hispanic women were 4.5 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as non-Hispanic white women.

Immunization

In 2004 Hispanic adults aged 65 and older were 20% less likely to have received the influenza (flu) shot in the past 12 months, as compared to non-Hispanic whites of the same age group.
In 2004, Hispanic adults aged 65 and older were 40% less likely to have ever received the pneumonia shot, as compared to non-Hispanic white adults of the same age group.
Although Hispanic children aged 19 to 35 months had comparable rates of immunization for hepatitis, influenza, MMR, and polio, they were slightly less likely to be fully immunized, when compared to non-Hispanic white children.

Infant Mortality

In 2003, infant mortality rates for Hispanic subpopulations ranged from 4.6 per 1,000 live births to 8.2 per 1,000 live births, compared to the non-Hispanic white infant mortality rate of 5.7 per 1,000 live births.
In 2003, Puerto Ricans had 1.4 times the infant mortality rate of non-Hispanic whites.
Puerto Rican infants were 2.1 times as likely to die from causes related to low birthweight, as compared to non-Hispanic white infants.
Mexican American mothers were twice as likely as non-Hispanic white mothers to begin prenatal care in the 3rd trimester, or not receive prenatal care at all.

Stroke

In 2003, Hispanic men were 20% less likely to die from a stroke than non-Hispanic white men.
In 2003 Hispanic women were 30% less likely to die from a stroke than non-Hispanic white women.