Abstract
Background
The increasing frequency of global migration to Canada and other high-income countries
has highlighted the need for information on the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD)
and stroke among migrant populations.
Methods
Using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, we conducted an English-language literature
review of articles published from 2000 to 2014 to study patterns in the incidence
of IHD or stroke in migrant populations to high-income countries. Our search revealed
17 articles of interest. All studies stratified immigrants according to country or
region of birth, except 2 from Canada and 1 from Denmark, in which all immigrant groups
were analyzed together.
Results
The risk of IHD or stroke varied by country of origin, country of destination, and
duration of residence. In our review we found that most migrant groups to Western
Europe were at a similar or higher risk of IHD and stroke compared with the host population.
Those at a higher risk included many Eastern European, Middle-Eastern, and South Asian
immigrants. When duration of residence was considered, it appeared that in most migrants
the risk of IHD worsened over time. In contrast, immigrants overall were at lower
risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in Ontario compared with long-term residents
of Canada.
Conclusions
The risks of IHD and stroke vary widely in immigrant populations in Western Europe.
Detailed studies of immigrants to Canada according to country of birth and duration
of residence should be undertaken to guide future cardiovascular health promotion
initiatives.
Résumé
Introduction
L’accroissement de la fréquence de la migration internationale vers le Canada et les
autres pays à revenu élevé a fait ressortir le besoin d’information sur le risque
de cardiopathie ischémique (CI) et d’accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC) chez les populations
migrantes.
Méthodes
À partir des bases de données MEDLINE et EMBASE, nous avons mené une revue de la littérature
de langue anglaise des articles publiés de 2000 à 2014 pour étudier les profils d’incidence
de la CI ou de l’AVC des populations migrantes vers les pays à revenu élevé. Notre
recherche a révélé 17 articles d’intérêt. Dans toutes les études, les immigrants étaient
stratifiés selon le pays ou la région de naissance, à l’exception de 2 études du Canada
et 1 du Danemark pour lesquelles tous les groupes d’immigrants étaient analysés ensemble.
Résultats
Le risque de CI ou d’AVC variait selon le pays d’origine, le pays de destination et
la durée de résidence. Dans notre revue, nous avons observé que la plupart des groupes
de migrants vers l’Europe occidentale étaient exposés à un risque similaire ou plus
élevé de CI et d’AVC comparativement à la population hôte. Ceux exposés à un risque
plus élevé comprenaient plusieurs immigrants de l’Europe orientale, du Moyen-Orient
et de l’Asie du Sud. Lorsque la durée de résidence était considérée, il semblait que
chez la plupart des migrants le risque de CI s’exacerbait avec le temps. En revanche,
les immigrants étaient dans l’ensemble exposés à un risque plus faible d’infarctus
du myocarde et d’AVC en Ontario comparativement aux résidents de longue durée du Canada.
Conclusions
Les risques de CI et d’AVC varient grandement entre les populations immigrantes en
Europe occidentale. Des études approfondies sur les immigrants du Canada selon leur
pays de naissance et la durée de résidence devraient être entreprises pour orienter
les futures initiatives de promotion de la santé cardiovasculaire.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 04, 2015
Accepted:
April 28,
2015
Received:
February 11,
2015
Footnotes
See page 1167 for disclosure information.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
