ABSTRACTOBJECTIVESTo investigate cardiovascular risk factors among Asian migrants in Korea, compared to Koreans and the general population in the home countries, according to nationality.DESIGNLongitudinal ecological studySETTING282 local authorities in Korea, classified by city, province and district, 2009-2015.PARTICIPANTS987,214 Asian migrants and 1,693,281 Koreans aged 20 years and older.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESFirst, the prevalence of current smokers, physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia; second, incident type 2 diabetes and hypertension.RESULTSAmong participants who were 20 years and older, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity in Chinese migrant women (25.6%) was higher than that in Korean women (23.2%) (P < 0.0001). The age-adjusted prevalence of obesity in Filipino migrant women (30.9%) was higher than that in Korean women (23.2%) (P = 0.0023). The age-adjusted prevalence of obesity in other Asian migrant women (35.5%) was higher than that in Korean women (23.2%) (P < 0.0001). In addition, among participants aged 20–49 years, the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes in Filipino migrant women (2.6%) was higher than that in Korean women (1.8%) (P = 0.0090). The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension in Filipino migrant women (7.7%) was higher than that in Korean women (4.2%) (P < 0.0001). In the multivariate analyses, compared to Koreans, the odds ratios of developing type 2 diabetes and hypertension were 0.82 (95% CI, 0.78 to 0.86) and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.79) among Asian migrants, respectively. However, the odds ratio of developing type 2 diabetes was 1.32 (95% CI, 1.11 to 1.57) among Vietnamese migrant men aged 20–39 years compared to Korean men. Compared to Korean women, the odds ratios of developing hypertension were 1.49 (95% CI, 1.05 to 2.11) and 2.22 (95% CI, 1.17 to 4.19) among Filipino migrant women aged 20–39 years and more than 40 years, respectively. Moreover, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity (41.4%) in Filipino migrant men was higher than that (30.4%) in men from the general population in the Philippines in 2015. Furthermore, in 2014, the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes (12.5%) among Filipino migrant men was higher than that (7.1%) in men from the general population in the Philippines.CONCLUSIONSAlthough most Asian migrants were less likely to have type 2 diabetes and hypertension than Koreans, primary and secondary prevention of type 2 diabetes and hypertension among the majority of Asian migrants in Korea, especially targeting the specific age and sex groups according to nationality, is required. In addition, the problem of obesity among Asian migrants in Korea, especially in Asian migrant women, should be addressed.WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPICAccording to the healthy migrant hypothesis, international migrants, particularly recent migrants, are healthier than the general population of the host country.This health advantage among international migrants, also known as the healthy migrant effect, gradually disappears with increasing duration of residence in the host country.However, whether the health advantage exists with regard to cardiovascular risk factors among Asian migrants in Korea is unclear.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDSThe association between Asian migrants and cardiovascular risk factors according to nationality can provide basic evidence for targeting high-risk groups and improving policy development in Korea.In the multivariate analyses, among participants aged 20–39 years, Vietnamese migrant men were more likely to have T2D than Korean men; and among participants aged 20 years and older, Filipino migrant women were more likely to have hypertension than Korean women after adjusting for covariates.In 2015, among participants who were 20 years and older, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity in Chinese, Filipino, and other Asian migrant women were higher than that in Korean women, respectively.
Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in First and Second-Generation Indians: The Singapore Indian Eye Study
