OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate racial and ethnic disparity in blood pressure and cholesterol measurement and to analyze factors associated with any observed disparity.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional analysis of the household component of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

PARTICIPANTS:

Representative sample of the U.S. non-institutionalized population age 21 or older.

MEASUREMENTS:

Prevalence of self-reported blood pressure measurement within 2 years and cholesterol measurement within 5 years were calculated by race/ethnicity. Logistic regression was used to adjust for health insurance status, having a usual source of care, health status, and socioeconomic and demographic factors. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) from the logistic regression were converted to prevalence ratios to estimate relative risk (RR).

MAIN RESULTS:

Mexican Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites were less likely to have a blood pressure measurement (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.81 to 0.89) or a cholesterol measurement (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.78). Non-Hispanic blacks had blood pressure and cholesterol measurements similar to non-Hispanic whites. In a multivariate analysis, Mexican Americans had similar blood pressure measurements (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94 to 1.00) and cholesterol measurements (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.08). The factors associated with the largest disparity were lack of health insurance, not having a usual source of care, and low education.

CONCLUSIONS:

No disparity was found between non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites in undergoing blood pressure and cholesterol measurement. Disparities in cardiovascular preventive services for Mexican Americans were associated with lack of health insurance and a usual source of care, but other demographic and socioeconomic factors were also important.