Risk factors for cardiovascular disease -A Comparison Between Swedes and Immigrants

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Abstract
Objective — To explore and compare risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Design -Descriptive analysis of data obtained by personal interview, laboratory investigations, and clinical examination by a trained nurse. Setting — Vårby Health Centre, located in a suburb of Stockholm. The health center has 32 percent immigrants in its catchment area. Subjects — 2238 participants aged 25–54 years who attended for a health check in 1989-90. Main outcome measures — Ethnicity, age, sex, smoking habits, body mass index(BMI), serum-cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure. Results — 30 different nationalities participated and were classified as Swedish, Finnish, Mediterranean and “Other”. Mediterraneans had a higher BMI in spite of the fact that their blood pressures were significantly lower. The Finns had the highest mean cholesterol values. Smoking rates among Mediterranean men were high (58%). 40% of the Swedish men smoked. Only 14% of the Mediterranean women aged 45-54 years smoked. The smoking rates increased in age groups 35–44 years (29%) and 25-34 years (46%). Conclusions — We found important ethnic differences in risk factor patterns. On the basis of our findings, Finnish immigrants should fare the worst. Special efforts should be directed at Finns, focusing on diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, and at Mediterraneans on overweight and smoking.