Mexican-Americans Far Less Likely to Seek Hip Replacement Surgery

Mexican-Americans ages 65 and older in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Illinois are less likely to receive hip replacements than non-Hispanic whites, according to researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

In their study of thousands of Medicare claims, researchers selected the four states because they have a high Hispanic population which is primarily Mexican-American, avoiding states with significant Hispanic populations that are not of Mexican-American origin, such as Florida, New Jersey and New York.

Investigators found that Mexican-Americans were seeking hip replacement surgery at less than a third of the rate of non-Hispanic whites, according to their study published in the journal Medical Care.

"Previous studies showed Hispanics underuse these procedures, and lack of insurance was thought to be a causative factor," said Dr. Agustin Escalante, associate professor of medicine at UT and lead author of the study. "In this study we focused on beneficiaries of Medicare, which is something people from all ethnic groups receive upon reaching 65. It pays for total hip replacement. We eliminated the insurance variable and still came up with a disparity that is not explained by cost of procedures or insurance."

Escalante speculates that Hispanics who need hip replacement may not know anyone else who has had the surgery. Also, researchers did not rule out the possibility that arthritis, which causes the need for hip replacement surgery, may occur less frequently in Mexican-Americans than in non-Hispanic whites.

Also see; minimally invasive hip surgery.

About The Author:

Dr. Agustin Escalante is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.hip-replacement-care.com. Information on hip replacement; the cause, diagnosis, symptoms, surgery and treatment for recovery and rebuilding your body.