Abstract
The association between immigration status and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor awareness is unknown. Using physical
examination-based data and participants’ self-report of prior diagnosis, we assessed immigration-based disparities in awareness
of diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and overweight among 12,124 participants in the 2003–2008 National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey. Unawareness of CVD risk factors is high among all groups, but tends to be higher among foreign-born
English and non-English speaking participants than among US-born participants. After adjusting for demographic factors and
access to health care, foreign-born participants appear more likely to be unaware of their hypertension and overweight than
US-born participants. Immigrants are more likely than those born in the US to be unaware of their CVD risk factors, and therefore
may be less motivated to seek treatment and modify their behavior to prevent negative CVD outcomes.
examination-based data and participants’ self-report of prior diagnosis, we assessed immigration-based disparities in awareness
of diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and overweight among 12,124 participants in the 2003–2008 National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey. Unawareness of CVD risk factors is high among all groups, but tends to be higher among foreign-born
English and non-English speaking participants than among US-born participants. After adjusting for demographic factors and
access to health care, foreign-born participants appear more likely to be unaware of their hypertension and overweight than
US-born participants. Immigrants are more likely than those born in the US to be unaware of their CVD risk factors, and therefore
may be less motivated to seek treatment and modify their behavior to prevent negative CVD outcomes.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-011-9566-2
- Authors
- Brent A. Langellier, Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA School of Public Health, P.O. Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA
- Jeremiah R. Garza, Department of Health Services, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Deborah Glik, Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA School of Public Health, P.O. Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA
- Michael L. Prelip, Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA School of Public Health, P.O. Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA
- Ron Brookmeyer, Department of Biostatistics, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Christian K. Roberts, Translational Sciences Section, UCLA School of Nursing, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Anne Peters, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Alexander N. Ortega, Institute for Survey Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912