Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with a substantially increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. We examined the contribution of length of residence, socioeconomic position and lifestyle-related factors to the differences in the prevalence of MetS among migrants compared with Finns. Methods Cross-sectional data from randomly sampled 30–64 year-old health examination participants (318 Russian, 212 Somali, and 321 Kurdish origin migrants) of the Migrant Health and Wellbeing Survey (2010 − 2012) were used. Health 2011 Survey participants (n = 786) were the reference group. Results Compared with Finns, prevalence of MetS was significantly higher among all migrants except for Somali men. Among men, age-adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) of MetS compared with Finns was 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19–2.46 for Russians, PR 0.95 (95% CI 0.54–1.67) for Somali, and PR 2.10 (95% CI 1.51–2.93) for Kurds. Among women, respective PRs were 1.45 (95% CI 1.08–1.97) for Russians, PR 2.34 (95% CI 1.75–3.14) for Somali and PR 2.22 (95% CI 1.67–2.97) for Kurds. Adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle-related factors attenuated the differences in MetS among women but not men. Conclusions Further studies should aim at identifying factors related to elevated risk for MetS among Russian and Kurdish men. Interventions aiming at improving lifestyle-related factors are needed for reducing inequalities in the prevalence of MetS among migrant women. Effectiveness of interventions focusing on reducing overweight and obesity among Somali and Kurdish women should be evaluated. © 2017

Lifestyle migrant cardiovascular risk Metabolic syndrome

Kurd (people) Russia Russian (people) lifestyle Somali (people) Life Style Finland metabolic syndrome X multicenter study clinical trial demography Metabolic Syndrome human epidemiology risk assessment middle aged sex difference ethnic group controlled study Health Surveys ethnology procedures Cross-Sectional Studies Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult social status migrant ethnic difference cross-sectional study Adolescent Humans male female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics questionnaire high risk population population research prevalence Article Retrospective Studies major clinical study adult migration age Somalia Turkey Transients and Migrants retrospective study Finn (people) body mass Body Mass Index Russian Federation health survey