The Health Status and Characteristics of Hypertensives in Guam

Abstract

Studies of Asian Pacific American populations are of ten flawed because while the population is quite heterogeneous, researchers usually collapse them into a single category, making it impossible to assess the health status or needs of individual Asian Pacific American ethnic groups. Using a probability sample of Guam residents, the analysis reported here addresses the problem by documenting the health status and characteristics of Chamorro and Filipino hypertensives. In contrast to predictions from the literature, Chamorros have a higher prevalence of hypertension than Filipinos. Additional results show that hypertensive Chamorro men and women are from lower socioeconomic status levels than their Filipino counterparts, while hypertensive men and women of both ethnic groups appear equally likely to be overweight and to suffer diabetes. Male hypertensives are at greater risk for psychological distress than normotensives, and have a greater chance of heart failure. Compared to Filipinos, hypertensive Chamorros are more likely to evaluate their overall physical health as poor.