Acculturation is associated with higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk-factors among Chinese immigrants in Australia: Evidence from a large population-based cohort

Abstract

Background Acculturation is associated with increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk-factors among immigrants in Western countries. Little is known about acculturation effects on CVD risks among Chinese immigrants, one of the fastest growing populations in Western countries. In this study, we aim to examine the association between acculturation and CVD risk-factors among Chinese immigrants, Australia's third-largest foreign-born group. Methods We accessed a subsample of Chinese immigrants ( n = 3220) within the 45-and-Up Study (2006-2009). Poisson regression model with a robust error variance examined the association between acculturation and CVD risk-factors, and prevalence ratios were reported, adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics. Indicators of acculturation included age at migration, length of Australian residence and language spoken at home. The outcomes were self-reported CVD diagnosis and six risk-factors (hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, overweight/obesity, physical inactivity). Results Mean age of Chinese participants was 58.9-years (SD = 10.7) and 55.5% were women. Chinese migrating to Australia aged <18 years were significantly more likely to report diabetes (prevalence ratio = 1.71; p < 0.01), overweight/obesity (prevalence ratio = 1.49; p < 0.001) and ≥ 3 CVD risk-factors (prevalence ratio = 1.47; p < 0.05) compared with those who migrated after 18-years-old. Chinese immigrants who lived in Australia for ≥ 30 years were significantly more likely to have diabetes (prevalence ratio = 1.84; p < 0.01) and ≥ 3 CVD risk-factors (prevalence ratio = 1.84; p < 0.01). There were no significant differences by language spoken at home. The association between indicators of acculturation and CVD risk-factors appeared to differ by sex. Conclusion Greater acculturation was associated with adverse CVD risk-factors among Chinese immigrants in Australia.

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Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in First and Second-Generation Indians: The Singapore Indian Eye Study

“…While cross-sectional studies have reported higher CVD risk and poor cardiovascular profiles in more acculturated second-generation (born in host country) individuals compared to less acculturated foreign-born immigrants 16 – 23 , the observed generational variations do not provide an estimate of the “true” generational effect on health, as they may be confounded by secular trends in the health of immigrants. Currently, longitudinal data on the impact of generational changes on the incidence of CVD and its risk factors in immigrant populations, particularly from Asian cultures, are rare.…”

Emerging trends and challenges of population-based cardiology

“…The immigration processes, actively ongoing in many regions of the world, also represent a social risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases and the significance of this risk factor became a subject of studies recently. For example, the studies showed that the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among Chinese immigrants in Australia is associated with the process of cultural assimilation [51]. A likelihood of hypertension что женщины имели повышенный риск назначений неподходящих препаратов по сравнению с мужчинами по критериям EU(7)-PIM, но у мужчин риск был выше, чем у женщин по критериям Бирса.…”

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