Background: The US immigrant population has grown considerably in the last three decades, from 9.6 million in 1970 to 32.5 million in 2002. However, this unprecedented population rise has not been accompanied by increased immigrant health monitoring. In this study, we examined the extent to which US- and foreign-born blacks, whites, Asians, and Hispanics differ in their health, life expectancy, and mortality patterns across the life course. Methods: We used National Vital Statistics System (1986-2000) and National Health Interview Survey (1992-1995) data to examine nativity differentials in health outcomes. Logistic regression and age-adjusted death rates were used to examine differentials. Results: Male and female immigrants had, respectively, 3.4 and 2.5 years longer life expectancy than the US-born. Compared to their US-born counterparts, black immigrant men and women had, respectively, 9.4 and 7.8 years longer life expectancy, but Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino immigrants had lower life expectancy. Most immigrant groups had lower risks of infant mortality and low birthweight than the US-born. Consistent with the acculturation hypothesis, immigrants' risks of disability and chronic disease morbidity increased with increasing length of residence. Cancer and other chronic disease mortality patterns for immigrants and natives varied considerably, with Asian Immigrants experiencing substantially higher stomach, liver and cervical cancer mortality than the US-born. Immigrants, however, had significantly lower mortality from lung, colorectal, breast, prostate and esophageal cancer, cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis, diabetes, respiratory diseases, HIV/AIDS, and suicide.

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immigrant Chinese breast cancer Filipino Asian Human immunodeficiency virus infection logistic regression analysis Caucasian lung cancer prostate cancer Population Surveillance liver cirrhosis Continental Population Groups human risk assessment sex difference statistics colorectal cancer diabetes mellitus controlled study Suicide health status Databases, Factual Logistic Models cancer morbidity respiratory tract disease factual database chronic disease African American population growth hypothesis interview United States Humans Hispanic cardiovascular disease life expectancy Japan male female outcomes research biostatistics population research cultural factor race Article esophagus cancer liver cancer low birth weight uterine cervix cancer migration disability age distribution Infant Mortality Emigration and Immigration statistical model cause of death acquired immune deficiency syndrome mortality stomach cancer health survey