Public Health Nursing
Volume 28, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 129-139

Self-Reported Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Immigrants and Swiss Nationals (Article)

Grossmann F.F.* , Leventhal M.E. , Auer-Böer B. , Wanner P. , Bischoff A.
  • a Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, Emergency Department, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
  • b Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
  • c Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
  • d Laboratory of Demography, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • e Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, Division of International and Humanitarian Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the prevalence of self-reported cardiovascular risk factors differs between immigrants and Swiss nationals. Design and Sample: This study is a secondary data analysis of the Swiss Health Survey 2002, a cross-sectional survey. In total, 19,249 individuals living in Switzerland were included. Measures: The prevalence of hypertension, high cholesterol level, smoking, diabetes, overweight, low fruit and vegetable intake, and physical inactivity were calculated for major immigrant groups and Swiss nationals. Demographic data were used to control for age and socioeconomic status. Results: Major immigrant groups were people from Italy, Germany, former Yugoslavia, Spain, Portugal, France, and Turkey. Compared with Swiss women, women from former Yugoslavia were more likely to have hypertension, and women from Germany were more likely to have high cholesterol levels. Women from Italy, former Yugoslavia, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey were more likely to show physical inactivity and (except Turkish women) to be overweight. Men from these countries (except Spanish men) were more likely to be overweight than Swiss men. Conclusions: Differences exist in the prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors between Swiss nationals and many of the immigrant groups. Age and socioeconomic status could only partly explain the differences. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Author Keywords

Cardiovascular diseases immigrants Cross-sectional studies risk factors Prevalence

Index Keywords

health disparity Health Status Disparities Cardiovascular Diseases risk human Self Report middle aged Odds Ratio statistics Ethnic Groups ethnic group Confidence Intervals Aged Health Surveys Cross-Sectional Studies Confidence interval Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans cardiovascular disease Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics prevalence Article adult migration age Age Factors Switzerland health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79952011424&doi=10.1111%2fj.1525-1446.2010.00896.x&partnerID=40&md5=20c02cbbccc3b8039687522abdcb4623
DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2010.00896.x
ISSN: 07371209
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English