Relationship between depressive symptoms and diabetes among native Hawaiians.

Increased prevalence of depression has been reported among diabetes patients. We examined this association between diabetes and depressive symptoms in a population-based study where glucose tolerance status was determined with World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was determined from blood collected from 574 native Hawaiians. The Centers for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale was used to assess depressive symptoms in association with diabetes history and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). A significant association was observed between depressive symptoms and HBA1c that persisted after adjusting for age, BMI, gender, education, and after exclusion of participants reporting a history of diabetes. Diabetes history was no longer associated with CES-D depressive symptoms after adjusting for HbA1c. These results support the hypothesis that depressive symptoms associated with diabetes may be partially explained by a shared neuroendocrinological disturbance.

Cancer research studies in Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

PURPOSE: To review and assess published findings from relevant cancer research studies in Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders and to develop strategies for designing and implementing successful cancer research studies in the future. METHODS: Data were collected primarily from MEDLINE and BIOSIS Preview searches of the English literature during a 30-year period for published reports of cancer surveillance studies and epidemiological and clinical cancer studies in the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations. The cancer burden was critically assessed in the retrieved citations for each of the indigenous groups from Hawai'i, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. RESULTS: A review of the published literature revealed a lack of systematic data collection on cancer incidence and mortality in Pacific Islanders. Wide variations were found regarding the status of cancer research among ethnic groups. It is estimated that Native Hawaiians represent 0.1% of subjects accrued to cancer prevention trials, and that Pacific Islanders represent 0.5% of subjects in a large cancer screening trial. CONCLUSION: The paucity of cancer data and clinical cancer research supports the need for increased attention to these indigenous populations to improve the quality of cancer care in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island communities.

Depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking among Native Hawaiians.

The present study estimated the prevalence of depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking and examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking among native Hawaiians. Cross-sectional data from 524 rural, native Hawaiian from the Native Hawaiian Health Research Project are presented. Depressive symptoms were measured using the self-report Centre for Epidemiological Studies--Depression Scale. Information on smoking behavior and sociodemographic variables was collected. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 15%, and significantly higher among participants with lower educational attainment. The prevalence of current smokers was 32%, and significantly higher among younger adults and participants with lower educational attainment. Regression analyses reported a significant relationship between CES-D scores and smoking status as well as between CES-D scores and number of cigarettes smoked daily. However, when education and age were included in the regression models, the relationships were attenuated. The findings and implications of this study are discussed.