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Published in: International Journal of Public Health 1/2012

01-02-2012 | Original Article

The prevalence and management of cardiovascular risk factors in immigrant groups in Switzerland

Authors: Pedro Marques-Vidal, Peter Vollenweider, Gérard Waeber, Fred Paccaud

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Objectives

To compare the prevalence and management of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) between immigrant groups and Swiss nationals.

Methods

The Swiss Health Surveys (SHS, N = 49,245) and CoLaus study (N = 6,710) were used. Immigrant groups from France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, former Yugoslavia, other European and other countries were defined.

Results

Immigrants from Italy, France, Portugal, Spain and former Yugoslavia presented a higher prevalence of smoking than Swiss nationals. Immigrants reported less hypertension than Swiss nationals, but the differences were reduced when blood pressure measurements were used. The prevalence of dyslipidaemia was similar between immigrants and Swiss nationals in the SHS. When eligibility for statin treatment was assessed, immigrants from Italy were more frequently eligible than Swiss nationals. Immigrants from former Yugoslavia presented a lower prevalence of diabetes in the SHS, but a higher prevalence in the CoLaus study. Most differences between immigrant groups and Swiss nationals disappeared after adjusting for age, leisure-time physical activity, being overweight/obesity and education.

Conclusions

Most CVRFs are unevenly distributed among immigrant groups in Switzerland, but these differences are due to disparities in age, leisure-time physical activity, being overweight/obesity and education.
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Metadata
Title
The prevalence and management of cardiovascular risk factors in immigrant groups in Switzerland
Authors
Pedro Marques-Vidal
Peter Vollenweider
Gérard Waeber
Fred Paccaud
Publication date
01-02-2012
Publisher
SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel
Published in
International Journal of Public Health / Issue 1/2012
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-011-0297-x

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