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Measures of Acculturation are Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, Dietary Intakes, and Physical Activity in Older Chinese Americans in New York City

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Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and affects Chinese Americans disproportionately compared to other ethnic groups in the American population. Studies of immigrant populations have shown that risk factors for CVD, including diet and physical activity, differ by acculturation. This cross-sectional study evaluated whether two measures of acculturation (region of birthplace, length of residence in the U.S.) were associated with CVD risk factors, dietary intakes, and physical activity of 125 older Chinese Americans who participated in health fairs conducted in NYC. In this study, mean waist circumference differed significantly by birthplace. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure differed significantly by length of residence in the U.S. Mean intake of vitamin B6, folate and calcium differed significantly by birthplace: Chinese Americans from Hong Kong had the highest mean vitamin B6 intake whereas older Chinese Americans from Northern China had the highest folate and calcium intakes. Mean intake of riboflavin differed significantly by length of residence in the U.S. with Chinese Americans adults who lived in the U.S. less than 10 years having the highest mean intake. Mean dairy intake of Chinese Americans differed significantly by birthplace, with adults from northern China having the highest mean dairy intake. Vigorous-intensity physical activity differed significantly by birthplace, with adults from Hong Kong reporting the most daily minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity. This study suggests that acculturation may be associated with the cardiovascular health of older Chinese Americans living in NYC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10035, USA

    Sally S. Wong

  2. Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, New York University, 35 W. 4th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY, 10012, USA

    L. Beth Dixon & Judith A. Gilbride

  3. Division of Cardiology, Beth Israel Medical Center, 16th Street at 1st Avenue, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Tak W. Kwan

  4. Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 530 First Avenue, SK 9R, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Richard A. Stein

Authors
  1. Sally S. Wong
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  2. L. Beth Dixon
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  3. Judith A. Gilbride
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  4. Tak W. Kwan
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  5. Richard A. Stein
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Correspondence to Sally S. Wong.

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Wong, S.S., Dixon, L.B., Gilbride, J.A. et al. Measures of Acculturation are Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, Dietary Intakes, and Physical Activity in Older Chinese Americans in New York City. J Immigrant Minority Health 15, 560–568 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9669-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9669-4

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