Faculty Collaboration Database

Association between length of residence and cardiovascular disease risk factors among an ethnically diverse group of United States immigrants. J Gen Intern Med 2007 Jun;22(6):841-6

Date

05/16/2007

Pubmed ID

17503110

Pubmed Central ID

PMC2219871

DOI

10.1007/s11606-007-0163-y

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-34248512385 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   213 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors between immigrants and nonimmigrants have been examined previously, the effect of acculturation on CVD risk factors in immigrants has been less well studied.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between length of U.S. residence (proxy for acculturation) and major CVD risk factors.

METHODS: Data on 5,230 immigrant adults from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was analyzed. Primary independent variable was length of U.S. residence < 10, 10 to < 15, and > or = 15 years. Main outcome measures included obesity, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and physical inactivity. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association between length of residence and odds of multiple CVD risk factors adjusting for confounders. SAS-callable SUDAAN was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Among the patients, 55.4% were obese, 17.3% had hypertension, 15.9% had hyperlipidemia, 6.6% had diabetes, 79.3% were physically inactive, and 14.3% were smokers. Using < 10 years as reference, those with length of residence > or = 15 years were more likely to be obese (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.03-1.65), have hyperlipidemia (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.14-2.22), and be smokers (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.04-1.85). Length of residence > or = 15 years was associated with decreased odds of sedentary lifestyle (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.47-0.84). Length of residence > or = 15 years was not associated with odds of having diabetes (OR 1.40, 95% CI 0.78-2.51) or hypertension (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.86-1.71).

CONCLUSIONS: Among immigrants from diverse ethnic backgrounds, longer length of residence in the United States is associated with increased odds of obesity, hyperlipidemia, and cigarette smoking even after adjusting for relevant confounding factors.

Author List

Koya DL, Egede LE

Author

Leonard E. Egede MD Center Director, Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acculturation
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Cardiovascular Diseases
Emigration and Immigration
Female
Humans
Hyperlipidemias
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity
Residence Characteristics
Risk Factors
Smoking
Time Factors
United States