Citation
Le-Scherban, Felice; Albrecht, Sandra S.; Bertoni, Alain G.; Kandula, Namratha R.; Mehta, Neil; & Diez-Roux, Ana V. (2016). Immigrant Status and Cardiovascular Risk over Time: Results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Annals of Epidemiology, 26(6), 429-35.e1. PMCID: PMC4903922Abstract
PURPOSE: Despite cross-sectional evidence that foreign-born United States (US) residents often have better health than US-born residents of similar race and/or ethnicity, we know little about overall cardiovascular risk progression over time among immigrants as they age in the US.METHODS: Using longitudinal data from the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis on 6446 adults aged 45-84 years at baseline, we examined how nativity and length of US residence related to change in cardiovascular health (CVH) and cardiovascular event incidence over 11-year follow-up. CVH was measured using the American Heart Association's CVH measure (range, 0-14; higher is better).
RESULTS: Immigrants, particularly those with shorter US residence, had better baseline CVH and lower cardiovascular event incidence than the US born. Baseline CVH scores ranged from 8.67 (8.42-8.92) among immigrants living in the US less than 10 years to 7.86 (7.76-7.97) among the US born. However, recent immigrants experienced the largest CVH declines over time: 10-year declines ranged from -1.04 (-1.27 to -0.80) among immigrants living in the US less than 10 years at baseline to -0.47 (-0.52 to -0.42) among the US born.
CONCLUSIONS: Public health prevention efforts targeting new immigrants may help slow the deterioration of CVH and reduce future cardiovascular risk.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2016.04.008Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2016Journal Title
Annals of EpidemiologyAuthor(s)
Le-Scherban, FeliceAlbrecht, Sandra S.
Bertoni, Alain G.
Kandula, Namratha R.
Mehta, Neil
Diez-Roux, Ana V.