Hispanic Americans Disproportionally at Risk for Amputation

Sep 22, 2022 |

Adapted from the Amputee Coalition Fact Sheet on Race and Ethnicity Disparities in Limb Loss

Data from the Census Bureau indicates that as of 2020 there are more than 62 million Hispanics living in the United States making it the nation’s second-largest racial or ethnic group. This population has been one of the fastest growing groups in the U.S. between 2010 and 2020.

According to the American Heart Association data, the Hispanic community is more greatly affected by several cardiovascular risk factors. Diabetes often leads to Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), which restricts blood flow to the limbs and can result in amputation. PAD is a type of vascular disease, and nearly half of people who lose a limb because of vascular disease will die within five years. This is a higher five-year mortality rate than breast, colon, or prostate cancer.[1][2]  Rates of diabetes are higher among Hispanic men, at 15.1%, and women, 14.1%, than their Black, white and Asian peers, according to AHA statistics.

Latino Americans are ONE-and-a-HALF times more likely to experience amputation for any reason than white Americans, and 30% more likely to experience a major amputation related to a diabetic foot infection than white Americans.[3]

The Amputee Coalition is working to educate and inform the Hispanic community about these to promote limb loss prevention. If you think you may be at risk, especially if you have diabetes, peripheral artery disease (PAD), or chronic limb ischemia (CLI), talk with your healthcare provider about what you can do to avoid limb loss.

The Amputee Coalition is committed to providing support, resources, and information to support our Spanish-speaking community members. Latino amputees and their caretakers can access information about their unique medical and psychological needs in Spanish-language publications.  Spanish-language resources aim to help amputees and their families live life to the fullest after amputation.

To access our National Limb Loss Resource Center Spanish-Language resources, visit www.amputee-coalition.org/limb-loss-resource-center/spanish/.


[1] Pandian G, Hamid F, Hammond M. Rehabilitation of the Patient with Peripheral Vascular Disease and Diabetic Foot Problems. In: DeLisa JA, Gans BM, editors. Philadelphia: Lippincott‐Raven; 1998.

[2] Selvin E, Erlinger TP. “Prevalence of and risk factors for peripheral arterial disease in the United States: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999‐2000.” Circulation 2004;110(6):738‐43.https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.0000137913.26087.F0

[3] Bancks MP, Kershaw K, Carson AP, Gordon-Larsen P, Schreiner PJ & Carnethon MR. (2017). Association of modifiable risk factors in young adulthood with racial disparity in incident type 2 diabetes during middle adulthood. Jama, 318(24), 2457-2465. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.19546