BMC Public Health
Volume 14, Issue 1, 2014

Evidence for the healthy immigrant effect in older Chinese immigrants: A cross-sectional study (Article) (Open Access)

Corlin L. , Woodin M. , Thanikachalam M. , Lowe L. , Brugge D.*
  • a Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford, MA, United States, Community Health Program, Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences, Medford, MA, United States
  • b Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford, MA, United States, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, United States
  • c Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, United States
  • d Chinese Progressive Association, Boston, MA, United States
  • e Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, United States

Abstract

Background: Previous work has found that first-generation immigrants to developed nations tend to have better health than individuals born in the host country. We examined the evidence for the healthy immigrant effect and convergence of health status between Chinese immigrants (n = 147) and U.S. born whites (n = 167) participating in the cross-sectional Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and Health study and residing in the same neighborhoods. Methods. We used bivariate and multivariate models to compare disease prevalence and clinical biomarkers. Results: Despite an older average age and lower socioeconomic status, Chinese immigrants were less likely to have asthma (OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.09-0.48) or cardiovascular disease (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.20-0.94), had lower body mass index (BMI), lower inflammation biomarker levels, lower average sex-adjusted low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and higher average sex-adjusted high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. However, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of diabetes or hypertension. Duration of time in the U.S. was related to cardiovascular disease and asthma but was not associated with diabetes, hypertension, BMI, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, socioeconomic status, or health behaviors. Conclusions: The lower CVD and asthma prevalence among the Chinese immigrants may be partially attributed to healthier diets, more physical activity, lower BMI, and less exposure to cigarette smoke. First generation immigrant status may be protective even after about two decades. © 2014 Corlin et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Author Keywords

Chinese immigrants Convergence of health status Healthy immigrant effect

Index Keywords

China Caucasian Cardiovascular Diseases human Health Behavior middle aged Asian continental ancestry group statistics and numerical data diabetes mellitus health status hypertension Aged ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies United States cross-sectional study migrant Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants asthma female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics prevalence cholesterol blood biological marker European Continental Ancestry Group inflammation age distribution body mass Body Mass Index Biological Markers
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84902051570&doi=10.1186%2f1471-2458-14-603&partnerID=40&md5=13d63cda05e50e4b9ed0723c96939da9
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-603
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 21
Original Language: English