title: Evidence for the healthy immigrant effect in older Chinese immigrants: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous work has found that first-generation immigrants to developed nations tend to have better health than individuals born in the host country. We examined the evidence for the healthy immigrant effect and convergence of health status between Chinese immigrants (n = 147) and U.S. born whites (n = 167) participating in the cross-sectional Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and Health study and residing in the same neighborhoods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used bivariate and multivariate models to compare disease prevalence and clinical biomarkers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite an older average age and lower socioeconomic status, Chinese immigrants were less likely to have asthma (OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.09-0.48) or cardiovascular disease (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.20-0.94), had lower body mass index (BMI), lower inflammation biomarker levels, lower average sex-adjusted low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and higher average sex-adjusted high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. However, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of diabetes or hypertension. Duration of time in the U.S. was related to cardiovascular disease and asthma but was not associated with diabetes, hypertension, BMI, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, socioeconomic status, or health behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lower CVD and asthma prevalence among the Chinese immigrants may be partially attributed to healthier diets, more physical activity, lower BMI, and less exposure to cigarette smoke. First generation immigrant status may be protective even after about two decades.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corlin
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woodin
authors.forename: Mohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thanikachalam
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. dbrugge@aol.com.
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brugge
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002784:Cholesterol