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A Longitudinal Assessment of Risk Factors and Chronic Diseases among Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Adults in Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Mehwish Nisar

    (School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia)

  • Tracy L. Kolbe-Alexander

    (School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
    School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich 4350, Australia
    Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7700, South Africa)

  • Nicola W. Burton

    (School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane 4122, Australia)

  • Asaduzzaman Khan

    (School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and trajectories of chronic diseases and risk behaviors in immigrants from high-income countries (HIC), low–middle-income countries (LMIC), to Australian-born people. Data were used from five waves of the HABITAT (2007–2016) study—11,035 adults living in Brisbane, Australia. Chronic diseases included cancer, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Risk factors assessed were body mass index (BMI), insufficient physical activity, and cigarette smoking. Diabetes mellitus increased in all groups, with the highest increase of 33% in LMIC immigrants. The prevalence of cancers increased 19.6% in the Australian-born, 16.6% in HIC immigrants, and 5.1% in LMIC immigrants. The prevalence of asthma increased in HIC immigrants while decreased in the other two groups. Poisson regression showed that LMIC immigrants had 1.12 times higher rates of insufficient physical activity, 0.75 times lower rates of smoking, and 0.77 times lower rates of being overweight than the Australian-born population. HIC immigrants had 0.96 times lower rates of insufficient physical activity and 0.93 times lower rates of overweight than Australian-born. The findings of this study can inform better strategies to reduce health disparities by targeting high-risk cohorts.

Suggested Citation

  • Mehwish Nisar & Tracy L. Kolbe-Alexander & Nicola W. Burton & Asaduzzaman Khan, 2021. "A Longitudinal Assessment of Risk Factors and Chronic Diseases among Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Adults in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8621-:d:614788
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Santosh Jatrana & Ken Richardson & Samba Siva Rao Pasupuleti, 2018. "Investigating the Dynamics of Migration and Health in Australia: A Longitudinal Study," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 34(4), pages 519-565, October.
    2. Evenson, Kelly R. & Sarmiento, Olga L. & Ayala, Guadalupe X., 2004. "Acculturation and physical activity among North Carolina Latina immigrants," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(12), pages 2509-2522, December.
    3. Steven Kennedy & James Ted McDonald & Nicholas Biddle, 2006. "The Healthy Immigrant Effect and Immigrant Selection: Evidence from Four Countries," Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population Research Papers 164, McMaster University.
    4. Burgard, Sarah A. & Chen, Patricia V., 2014. "Challenges of health measurement in studies of health disparities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 143-150.
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