Coming to Canada: the difference in health trajectories between immigrants and native-born residents.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates improvements as well as declines in health with four health measures for immigrants and native-born residents.


METHODS
We used longitudinal data from Statistics Canada National Population Health Survey, which represented 8,474 native-born residents and 1,339 immigrants from 1994/95 to 2004/05. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to evaluate self-perceived health, chronic condition, health utility index, and body mass index.


RESULTS
The results showed that some immigrants were more likely to report a decline in health, while others were more likely to report an improvement in health relative to native-born residents. For example, immigrants had a higher odds ratio of both reporting (1.63: 95 % CI 1.22-2.18) and no longer reporting (1.49: 95 % CI 1.04-2.14) a chronic condition in subsequent survey years than native-born residents.


CONCLUSIONS
Our finding may be attributable to immigrants inconsistently reporting, or a dichotomous health trajectory. Longitudinal data with physical measurements may be required to decipher our observations.
Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada. lawrence.so@albertahealthservices.ca
Lawrence
L
So
Hude
H
Quan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult