Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies
Volume 4, Issue 4, 2007, Pages 37-54

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease Among Koreans Residing in California and Seoul (Article)

Hill L. , Hofstetter C.R. , Hovell M. , Lee J. , Irvin V.
  • a Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and Associate Director, Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive #0811 San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
  • b Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, C-BEACH, Graduate School of Public Health and San Diego State University, Hardy Tower 119, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182, United States
  • c Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, C-BEACH, Graduate School of Public Health and San Diego State University, Hardy Tower 119, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182, United States
  • d Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, C-BEACH, Graduate School of Public Health and San Diego State University, Hardy Tower 119, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182, United States; School of Public Health, Harvard University, 67 Huntington Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 021115, United States
  • e Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, C-BEACH, Graduate School of Public Health and San Diego State University, Hardy Tower 119, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182, United States

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to assess (1) the prevalence of six cardiac risk factors among California residents of Korean descent and Koreans living in Seoul, Korea; and (2) the differences in risk factors by gender, and acculturation. Participant selection used probability sampling to represent the adult populations of California and Seoul, Republic of Korea, and administered a telephone survey to 2,830 adult Korean Californians and 500 adult Koreans living in Seoul. Male gender significantly predicted tobacco use, BMI, exercise, passive smoke exposure (PSE), hypertension (Californians only), and number of risk factors. Californian residence significantly predicted higher smoking prevalence in women and lower smoking prevalence in men, higher BMI, higher fat diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and greater number of risk factors. Acculturation significantly predicted lower smoking prevalence (men only), lower prevalence of PSE exposure (women only), lower BMI (women only), more exercise, a higher fat diet, higher prevalence of hypertension, and increased number of cardiac risk factors. This comparative survey highlights the need for early cardiovascular risk reduction among Koreans living in Seoul and in California. © 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Acculturation cardiovascular risk immigrants Koreans

Index Keywords

Seoul [South Korea] South Korea immigrant Eurasia health risk Asia comparative study Far East living standard United States North America health impact cardiovascular disease California Acculturation risk factor disease prevalence gender Asian immigrant medical geography Nicotiana tabacum Korea
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33846084845&doi=10.1300%2fJ500v04n04_04&partnerID=40&md5=64d1dc649fa21d37ba108ccfe8e38cbd
DOI: 10.1300/J500v04n04_04
ISSN: 15562948
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English