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Length of Residence and Cardiovascular Health among Afro-Caribbean Immigrants in New York City

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Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately affects non-Hispanic blacks (NHB) in the United States (U.S.). Afro-Caribbean (AC) immigrants comprise over 50% of the immigrant black population and are critical in understanding the health trajectories of blacks in the U.S. We assessed the relationship between length of residence (proxy measure for acculturation) and cardiovascular health (CVH) based on the American Heart Association’s (AHA) seven ideal cardiovascular health components among AC immigrants in New York City (NYC). CVH scores were categorized into poor/intermediate CVH (0–3 components) or ideal CVH (≥ 4 components). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between length of residence in the U.S. and poor/intermediate CVH. In adjusted models, the odds of poor/intermediate CVH were significantly higher for Guyanese (OR = 3.51; 95% CI 1.03–11.95) and Haitian immigrants (OR = 8.02; 95% CI 1.88–34.12) residing in the U.S. for ≥ 10 years than for those living in the U.S. for < 10 years. Length of residence was not significantly associated with CVH among Jamaican immigrants. We found evidence of ethnic differences in the association between acculturation and CVH among AC immigrants in a major metropolitan city. Culturally tailored interventions are needed to improve the CVH of AC immigrants as they become integrated into the U.S., with special consideration of country of birth.

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Notes

  1. Estimate should be interpreted with caution. Estimate’s Relative Standard Error (a measure of estimate precision) is greater than 30%, or the 95% Confidence Interval half-width is greater than 10 or the sample size is too small, making the estimate potentially unreliable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, West Virginia University School of Public Health, 64 Medical Center Drive, P.O. Box 9190, Morgantown, WV, 26506-9190, USA

    Sabena C. Thomas, Danielle Davidov & Christiaan G. Abildso

  2. Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University School of Medicine, 64 Medical Center Drive, P.O. Box 9214, Morgantown, WV, 26506-9214, USA

    Amna Umer

  3. Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Yvonne Commodore-Mensah

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Thomas, S.C., Umer, A., Commodore-Mensah, Y. et al. Length of Residence and Cardiovascular Health among Afro-Caribbean Immigrants in New York City. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 6, 487–496 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-00547-8

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