Mortality in the hispanic population of Suffolk County, New York.

In the 1980 census, the "Spanish-origin" or "Hispanic" population of Suffolk County, New York (predominantly of Puerto Rican origin), had a lower median family income and a higher prevalence of poverty than the "all white" population of that county. Mortality among Hispanics, however, was not greater than expected on the basis of age-specific death rates for "all whites" in 1979-1983. The standardized mortality ratios for ischemic heart disease and all neoplasms were less than 1.00 for each sex, but were significantly elevated for diabetes mellitus in females and for both infectious diseases and homicides in males. Comparisons were made with mortality patterns in other American Hispanic populations predominantly of Puerto Rican origin, but with lower income levels (including those from New York City), and with data from Puerto Rico. The limitations of routinely reported mortality data are discussed, along with the value of such data in suggesting leads for more in-depth studies.