Hispanics have less repeat heart therapy

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Hispanics undergoing balloon procedures to open blocked arteries are less likely to require further revascularization procedures, U.S. researchers said.

Revascularization is a surgical procedure for the provision of a new, additional or augmented blood supply to a body part or organ such as the heart.

Hispanics also had a trend toward lower rates of overall repeat revascularization procedures, including stenting and bypass surgery, the study found. However, the study found half of Hispanics undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention had diabetes -- increasing their risk for heart attack.

"More Hispanics have hypertension and diabetes, especially insulin-treated diabetes," said Dr. Shailja V. Parikh of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

The study included 542 Hispanics and 1,357 Caucasians undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention from 1999 to 2006. Only clinical centers where 5 percent of patients were of Hispanic ethnicity were included.

Despite Hispanic patients being an average three years younger, researchers found hypertension in 80.4 percent of Hispanics vs. 72.3 percent of Caucasians. The study found 49.2 percent of Hispanics had diabetes compared to 27.8 percent of Caucasians, while insulin-treated diabetes was found in 15 percent of Hispanics vs. 7.4 percent in Caucasians.

The findings are being presented at the American Heart Association's scientific sessions in New Orleans.