Acculturation status and hypertension among Asian immigrants in Canada

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Abstract
A multiple logistic regression was conducted to assess the independent effects of acculturation and other factors on hypertension. We analysed data from the 1996–97 Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS). The sample size of Asian immigrants available from the NPHS for this study was 1972. The dependent variable was hypertension and the independent variable of interest was duration of residence. Hypertension was considered present if an affirmative answer was given to the question of whether the NPHS respondent had been diagnosed with high blood pressure by a health professional. Acculturation was defined as duration of residence in Canada and grouped into three categories: 0 to 4 years, 5 to 9 years, and 10 years and more. Control variables, identified in previous research as risk factors for hypertension, included smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, self assessed health, body mass index (BMI), chronic conditions, functional limitations, psychological distress, access to health services (last blood pressure check, have a regular doctor), and sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, and education). All analyses were weighted to reflect the sample design, adjustments for non-response, and poststratification with standard errors and significance tests computed using SUDAAN (Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC).