Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Immigrant and US-Born Adults in New York City. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chernov, Claudia; Wang, Lisa; Thorpe, Lorna E.; Islam, Nadia; Freeman, Amy; Trinh-Shevrin, Chau; Kanchi, Rania; Perlman, Sharon E.
• Is Part Of: Public health reports. Volume 137:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 537
• Page End: 547
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: cardiovascular disease -- immigrant health -- non–US-born -- diabetes -- hypertension -- urban health; Public health -- United States -- Periodicals; 614.0973
• DOI: 10.1177/00333549211007519
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-3549

Abstract

Objectives: Immigrant adults tend to have better health than native-born adults despite lower incomes, but the health advantage decreases with length of residence. To determine whether immigrant adults have a health advantage over US-born adults in New York City, we compared cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among both groups. Methods: Using data from the New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014, we assessed health insurance coverage, health behaviors, and health conditions, comparing adults ages ≥20 born in the 50 states or the District of Columbia (US-born) with adults born in a US territory or outside the United States (immigrants, following the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) and comparing US-born adults with (1) adults who immigrated recently (≤10 years) and (2) adults who immigrated earlier (>10 years). Results: For immigrant adults, the mean time since arrival in the United States was 21.8 years. Immigrant adults were significantly more likely than US-born adults to lack health insurance (22% vs 12%), report fair or poor health (26% vs 17%), have hypertension (30% vs 23%), and have diabetes (20% vs 11%) but significantly less likely to smoke (18% vs 27%) (all P < .05). Comparable proportions of immigrant adults and US-born adults were overweight or obese (67% vs 63%) and reported CVD (both 7%). Immigrant adults who arrived recently were less likely than immigrant adults who arrived earlier to have diabetes or high cholesterol but did not differ overall from US-born adults. Conclusions: Our findings may help guide prevention programs and policy efforts to ensure that immigrant adults remain healthy.