Prevalence, cost and correlates of physical activity participation by adults in an Australian regional city

"This study aims to investigate physical activity participation by adults in the regional city of Ballarat by examining: the current levels of physical activity and how these compare with the overall Australian adult population; the PAR fpr physical inactivity and CHD, NIDDM, colon cancer, stroke, breast cancer and all-cause mortality; the curent cost of CHD, and stroke, attributable to physical inactivity; the major determinants of physical activity participation; and the theoretical models most relevant for the design and implementation of any targeted intervention programs."Master of Applied Scienc

Are Australian immigrants at a risk of being physically inactive?

Background - We examined whether physical activity risk differed between migrant sub-groups and the Australian-born population. Methods - Data were drawn from the Australian National Health Survey (2001) and each resident's country of birth was classified into one of 13 regions. Data were gathered on each resident's physical activity level in the fortnight preceding the survey. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders examined the risk of physical inactivity of participants from each of the 13 regions compared to the Australian-born population. Results - There was a greater prevalence of physical inactivity for female immigrants from most regions compared to male immigrants from a like region. Immigrants from South East Asia (OR 2.04 % 95% CI 1.63, 2.56), Other Asia (OR 1.53 95% CI 1.10, 2.13), Other Oceania (1.81 95% CI 1.11, 2.95), the Middle East (OR 1.42 95% CI 0.97, 2.06), and Southern & Eastern Europe are at a significantly higher risk of being physically inactive compared to those born in Australian. In contrast, immigrants from New Zealand (OR 0.77 95% CI 0.62, 0.94), and the UK & Ireland (OR 0.82 95% CI 0.73, 0.92), are at a significantly lower risk of being physically inactive compared to the Australian born population. Conclusion - Future research identifying potential barriers and facilitators to participation in physical activity will inform culturally sensitive physical activity programs that aim to encourage members of specific regional ethnic sub-groups to undertake physical activit

Cardiovascular disease risk in immigrants : What is the evidence and where are the gaps?

Objectives: This study systematically reviewed the peer-reviewed literature to establish morbidity and mortality from myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke among immigrant populations. Methods: The review considered only studies published between 1986 and 2008 that provided data on MI or stroke morbidity/mortality among first-generation immigrants. A prespecified search strategy identified 58 studies for possible inclusion. Of these, 12 met the inclusion criteria. Results: Immigrant MI mortality and morbidity varied by host country with no consistent pattern from one country or region. However, there was an overall trend for increasing risk of MI among immigrants worldwide. Chinese and African immigrants had consistently higher stroke mortality. Conclusion: MI and stroke incidence and prevalence among first-generation immigrants are related to both genetic and environmental factors, but the relative contribution of each is unclear. Prospective studies are needed to identify genetic and behavioral characteristics associated with stroke among Chinese immigrant populations. © 2011 Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health

Is country of birth a risk factor for acute hospitalization for cardiovascular disease in Victoria, Australia?

International mortality studies show that some subgroups of migrants have a higher risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) than the native-born. To investigate whether country of birth increases the risk for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cerebral infarction (stroke) hospitalization in Victoria, Australia. A retrospective analysis of Victorian AMI (ICD-10-AM codes I21 and I22) and stroke (ICD-10-AM I63 and I64) discharges from routinely collected hospital data in 2001-2002 was conducted. The outcome measures were directly age standardized rate ratios (RRs) of AMI and stroke hospitalization, calculated using 2001 Australian census data, with the Australian-born as the reference group. Males from 4 ethnic groups - USSR/Baltic; Southern Asia; Middle East; and Eastern Europe, displayed higher risk for AMI hospitalization than Australian-born men, whereas males and females from Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia were at lower risk. Furthermore, males from Western Europe and females from the Pacific were also at lower risk. Females from the Middle East, Southern Asia, and Southern Europe were at higher risk of stroke hospitalization than Australian-born women; in contrast, males from Eastern Europe, NorthAsia, Southern Asia, Southern Europe, and the United Kingdom and Ireland were at lower risk. Risk for AMI and stroke hospitalization varies by country of birth in comparison with the Australian-born population. It will be import to identify the factors associated with these varying risks in order to target preventive strategies aimed at reducing risk of AMI and stroke. © 2011 APJPH

Are immigrants at risk of heart disease in Australia? A systematic review

We systematically reviewed the peer-reviewed literature to establish the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among immigrants in Australia and whether being an immigrant is a CVD risk factor. Of 23 studies identified, 12 were included. Higher prevalence of CVD was found among Middle Eastern, South Asian and some European immigrants. Higher prevalence of CVD risk factors was found among Middle Eastern and Southern European immigrants. Higher alcohol consumption was found among immigrants from New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Smoking and physical inactivity were highly prevalent among most immigrant

Cardiovascular disease risk of immigrants: what is the evidence and where are the gaps?

Objectives: This study systematically reviewed the peer-reviewed literature to establish morbidity and mortality from myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke among immigrant populations. Methods: The review considered only studies published between 1986 and 2008 that provided data on MI or stroke morbidity/mortality among first-generation immigrants. A prespecified search strategy identified 58studies for possible inclusion.Of these, 12 met the inclusion criteria. Results: Immigrant MI mortality and morbidity varied by host country with no consistent pattern from one country or region. However, there was an overall trend for increasing risk of MI among immigrants worldwide. Chinese and African immigrants had consistently higher stroke mortality. Conclusion: MI and stroke incidence and prevalence among first-generation immigrants are related to both genetic and environmental factors, but the relative contribution of each is unclear. Prospective studies are needed to identify genetic and behavioral characteristics associated with stroke among Chinese immigrant population

Is being an immigrant a risk factor for CVD in Australia?

Objective: To investigate whether being an immigrant is increase risk for AMI and stroke. Design and setting: A retrospective analysis of Victorian hospital admissions in 1996/97 and 2001/02 was conducted. Participants: AMI and stroke were defined using primary cases of admission of ICD-9-CM:‘P410’,ICD-10-AM:‘121’,‘122’and stroke ICD-9-CM‘P433’,’P436’,ICD- 10-AM ‘163’,‘164’diagnostic codes. Main outcome measured: Rate ratio (RR) of AMI and stroke were calculated using 1996 and 2001 Australian census data. Results: Male immigrants from three ethnic groups: USSR/Baltic (RR 3.91 95%CI 3.22,4.71), Southern Asia (RR 1.56 95%CI 1.31,1.85) and Middle East (RR 1.34 95%CI 1.10,1.63), consistently displayed higher risk for AMI (both years) than the Australian born cohort; while Southeast Asians (RR 0.51 95%CI 0.42,0.62) and Northeast Asians (RR 0.35 95%CI 0.24,0.50) were at lower risk. The findings for females were less consistent. North East Asian male and female immigrants (RR 0.57 95% CI 0.41, 0.76, RR 0.56 95%CI 0.41, 0.74), were consistently at lower risk for stroke than Australian born counterparts. Female immigrants from the Pacific Islands were consistently at higher risk (RR 1.52 95%CI 1.25, 1.84, RR 1.22 95%CI 0.98, 1.51) of stroke than Australian born women. Conclusion: A number of Non-Australian born adult males currently residing in Victoria are identified at increased risk of AMI, whereas few groups are at decreased risk, compared to Australian born males. North East Asian males and females were consistently at a lower risk for AMI and stroke than their Australian-born counterparts. However, Asia male and female immigrants are generally at a lower risk of stroke.C