Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
Volume 35, Issue 5, 2007, Pages 468-474

Migration and coronary heart disease: A study of Finnish twins living in Sweden and their co-twins residing in Finland (Article)

Hedlund E.* , Hammar N. , Kaprio J. , Lange A. , Koskenvuo M. , Jartti L. , Rönnemaa T.
  • a Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
  • b Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
  • c Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Department of Mental Health & Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Finland
  • d Centre for Research in Migration and Ethnic Relations, Stockholm University, Sweden
  • e Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Finland
  • f Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland
  • g Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland

Abstract

Background: Finland and Sweden are neighbouring countries with a substantially higher incidence and mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) in Finland. Migration from Finland to Sweden has resulted in a population of about 187,000 Finnish immigrants, with a higher risk of CHD than Swedes. The aim of the present study was to analyse the prevalence of CHD in migrants to Sweden compared with co-twins remaining in Finland. Methods: The study population consisted of twin pairs of the Finnish Twin Cohort Study where at least one twin had lived one year or more in Sweden, including 1,534 subjects and 251 complete twin pairs discordant regarding residency in Sweden. Emigrant twins were compared with non-migrant co-twins regarding prevalence of CHD in 1998. CHD prevalence was assessed by self-reported questionnaires validated using information from a clinical examination. Results: Self-reported CHD showed a good correspondence with clinical diagnosis. Differences in social and behavioural risk factors for CHD among men were small but emigrants were more physically active than non-migrants. Female emigrants had less overweight and better education, but were more often working class than non-migrants. Intra-pair comparisons restricted to migration discordant pairs showed a tendency towards a reduced prevalence of CHD in the migrant co-twins (0.6; 0.3—1.4). In analyses of all subjects disregarding pair status, emigrants showed a reduced prevalence of CHD compared with subjects always living in Finland (0.6; 0.4—0.9). Conclusion: Emigration from Finland to Sweden may be associated with a reduced prevalence of CHD. The causes are most likely multifactorial and may involve changes in dietary habits, physical activity, psychosocial factors, and inflammation. © 2007, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Migration country of birth Sweden CHD twin studies Finland

Index Keywords

education physical activity social psychology Life Style Finland Registries twins human Health Behavior Self Report middle aged Cohort Studies validation process controlled study social aspect priority journal diet obesity Aged Sweden Humans worker clinical examination male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Risk Factors Behavior questionnaire population research prevalence Article Questionnaires adult major clinical study migration inflammation ischemic heart disease Coronary Disease Diseases in Twins
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-34547732904&doi=10.1080%2f14034940701256875&partnerID=40&md5=12f98cc68a1923aedb2020795e2d9992
DOI: 10.1080/14034940701256875
ISSN: 14034948
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English