BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A higher incidence of spontaneous intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage among Hispanics than non-Hispanic whites has been measured in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. In an attempt to explain these differences, we compared historical vascular risk factors between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites living in this community. METHODS: An ongoing telephone survey, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, collected annual data about vascular risk factors among non-institutionalized, randomly selected adults. Data covering 6 years, 1988-1993, were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 843 Hispanic and 1,635 non-Hispanic white residents of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, who participated in this survey. Because Hispanics were significantly younger than non-Hispanic whites (37.7 vs. 43.4 years, p < 0.001), all other comparisons were adjusted for age. Prevalence of hypertension was similar between these ethnic groups (15-17%). Prevalence of alcohol drinking considered risky for abuse was similar between these ethnic groups (5-6%), but was significantly higher among Hispanic men than women (8.5 vs. 1.6%, p < 0.001). The quantity of alcohol consumption among those at risk for abuse was similar between these ethnic groups. Prevalence of current cigarette smoking was similar between these ethnic groups (22-23%), but Hispanics smoked significantly less than non-Hispanic whites (11.4 vs. 15.2 cigarettes per day, p < 0.001) and among non-Hispanic whites, men smoked significantly more than women (17.0 vs. 13.4 cigarettes per day, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The vascular risk factors which we compared between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites do not help to explain the higher incidence of hemorrhagic strokes among the Hispanics in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Additional risk factors for hemorrhagic strokes in these two ethnic groups should be studied.