Canadian Journal of Cardiology
Volume 28, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 20-26

Cardiovascular Risk Factor Profiles of Recent Immigrants vs Long-term Residents of Ontario: A Multi-ethnic Study (Article)

Chiu M.* , Austin P.C. , Manuel D.G. , Tu J.V.
  • a Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • b Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • c Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, ON, Canada, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Statistics Canada, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • d Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, ON, Canada, Schulich Heart Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Abstract

Background: There is growing evidence that cardiovascular risk profiles differ markedly across Canada's 4 major ethnic groups, namely White, South Asian, Chinese, and Black; however, the impact of long-term Canadian residency on cardiovascular risk within and across these ethnic groups is unknown. Methods: Using pooled data from Statistics Canada's National Population and Canadian Community Health Surveys (1996-2007), we compared the age- and sex-standardized prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases between recent immigrants (< 15 years in Canada) and long-term residents (immigrants who lived in Canada for < 15 years or people born in Canada) among White, South Asian, Chinese, and Black ethnic groups living in Ontario. We also calculated ethnic-specific attributable fraction (AF), defined as the proportion of risk that can be attributed to long-term Canadian residency. Results: For all ethnic groups, cardiovascular risk factor profiles (ie, the percentage of people with ≥ 2 major cardiovascular risk factors, ie, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension) were worse among those with longer duration of residency in Canada. The greatest change in recent immigrants vs long-term residents was observed in the Chinese group (2.2% vs 5.2%; AF 0.47) followed by the White (6.5% vs 10.3%; AF 0.36), Black (9.2% vs 12.1%; AF 0.17), and South Asian (7.7% vs 8.2%; AF 0.03) groups. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease did not differ significantly between recent immigrants and long-term residents, irrespective of ethnic group. Conclusions: Our results suggest that cardiovascular disease prevention strategies must consider not only ethnicity, but also the level of acculturation within each ethnic group. © 2012 Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

physical activity immigrant Negro Chinese Asian cardiovascular risk Stroke alcohol consumption Caucasian residential home fruit Cardiovascular Diseases vegetable Follow-Up Studies human risk assessment Ethnic Groups diabetes mellitus mental stress obesity hypertension Time Factors Health Surveys Residence Characteristics Cross-Sectional Studies Humans smoking male Canada Emigrants and Immigrants female Risk Factors heart disease prevalence Article Retrospective Studies Ontario major clinical study adult Sedentary Lifestyle food intake

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84856065266&doi=10.1016%2fj.cjca.2011.06.002&partnerID=40&md5=f03785ef9b29150cc73d4a710e094759

DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2011.06.002
ISSN: 0828282X
Cited by: 49
Original Language: English