About 27 percent of Puerto Ricans had at least two of those chronic conditions, compared with 21 percent of Mexicans, 19 percent of Cubans, and 17 percent of Central or South Americans.
In addition, Puerto Ricans were more likely than other Hispanics and non-Hispanics to have experienced serious psychological distress, including feeling nervous or hopeless, within the past month. Puerto Ricans were also more likely to report that health problems prevented them from working.
The data were collected between 2010 and 2014 from 165,950 Americans, including 28,880 Hispanics.
Nationally, Mexicans make up the largest Hispanic subgroup, followed by Puerto Ricans, recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show.
According to CDC researchers, “although the Hispanic population in the United States may share a common language, there is considerable variation among subgroups in terms of cultural background, socioeconomic status, and care-seeking behaviors.” The findings, they wrote, “highlight the importance of considering Hispanic subgroups when examining Hispanic health.”
The report released Friday is the latest from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics to address the health of U.S. ethnic and racial groups.
An April report found Hispanics live longer than whites and blacks, and research released in May showed Asian-Americans report being in better health than other U.S. adults.
