Coronary heart disease risks in first- and second-generation immigrants in Sweden: a follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse whether there is an association between country of birth in first-generation immigrants and first hospitalization for or death from coronary heart disease (CHD) and to analyse whether this association remains in second-generation immigrants.


METHODS
In this follow-up study, the MigMed database at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, was used to identify all hospital diagnoses of and deaths from incident CHD in first- and second-generation immigrants in Sweden between 1 January 1987 and 31 December 2001. Incidence ratios standardized by age, geographical region and socio-economic status were estimated by sex in first- and second-generation immigrants; the reference group was Swedish-born people whose parents were both born in Sweden.


METHODS
The total Swedish population aged 25-69 years.


RESULTS
First-generation immigrants from Finland, central European countries, other eastern European countries and Turkey had higher rates of CHD than men or women in the reference group. First-generation immigrant women born in southern Europe, other western European countries and Baltic countries had lower CHD risks than the reference group. Sons of both male and female first-generation immigrants showed CHD risks similar to or slightly higher than those of their parents. Amongst second-generation women, only subjects with Finnish fathers or mothers had higher risks of developing CHD than the reference.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased risks of CHD found in some first-generation immigrant groups often persist in second-generation immigrant men. Healthcare professionals and policy makers should take this into account when designing and undertaking measures to prevent CHD.
Sundquist
K
K
Center for Family and Community Medicine, Neurotec, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden. kristina.sundquist@klinvet.ki.se
Li
X
X
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000208:ethnology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005843:Geography; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012923:Social Class; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology