title: Cardiovascular disease risk in immigrants: what is the evidence and where are the gaps?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study systematically reviewed the peer-reviewed literature to establish morbidity and mortality from myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke among immigrant populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The review considered only studies published between 1986 and 2008 that provided data on MI or stroke morbidity/mortality among first-generation immigrants. A prespecified search strategy identified 58 studies for possible inclusion. Of these, 12 met the inclusion criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immigrant MI mortality and morbidity varied by host country with no consistent pattern from one country or region. However, there was an overall trend for increasing risk of MI among immigrants worldwide. Chinese and African immigrants had consistently higher stroke mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MI and stroke incidence and prevalence among first-generation immigrants are related to both genetic and environmental factors, but the relative contribution of each is unclear. Prospective studies are needed to identify genetic and behavioral characteristics associated with stroke among Chinese immigrant populations.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia. j.dassanayake@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Jayantha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dassanayake
authors.forename: Lyle
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gurrin
authors.forename: Warren R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Vijaya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sundararajan
authors.forename: Shyamali C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dharmage
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology