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Mortality in First Generation White Immigrants in California, 1989–1999

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Abstract

Objective To identify mortality differentials in the first generation non-Hispanic White (NHW) immigrants in California for 1989 through 1999. Methods First generation NHW immigrants (107,432) were identified in California Death Certificate files by place of birth outside the US and were grouped into Anglo-Saxon dominant, Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern Europe, former USSR, Arabs and non-Arab Middle Eastern areas. US-born NHW (1,480,347) were used as standard to determine proportional mortality ratios (PMR) for major causes of death including: cancers, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), HIV/AIDS, accidents, diabetes, pneumonia, suicide, and homicide. Results All immigrants had significantly higher PMR for suicide and with few exceptions for cardiovascular diseases. Lower PMR was recorded for COPD and homicide. No difference was noticed for pneumonia and accidents. Cancer deaths were generally higher in European immigrants. Conclusions Mortality patterns of NHW immigrants reflect the mixed impacts of acculturation, ethnic-specific characteristics, and psychological well being.

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Acknowledgement

The author would like to thank Bertram Kastenbaum, MS, MPH from the Office of the Chief Actuary, US SSA for providing the linked death certificated file used in this analysis. The author is also indebted to Paul Mills, PhD for constructive suggestions on the manuscript. This research was supported by the grant CA 103457 from the National Cancer Institute to Kiumarss Nasseri, PhD.

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  1. Public Health Institute, California Cancer Registry, 3944 State Street, Suite 330, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105, USA

    Kiumarss Nasseri

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  1. Kiumarss Nasseri
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Correspondence to Kiumarss Nasseri.

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Nasseri, K. Mortality in First Generation White Immigrants in California, 1989–1999. J Immigrant Minority Health 10, 197–205 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-007-9070-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-007-9070-x

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