Mortality Differences Between Immigrants in Sweden and Their Home Countries
Author Information
Author(s): Gadd Malin, Johansson Sven-Erik, Sundquist Jan, Wändell Per
Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Hypothesis
Are there differences in all-cause and coronary heart disease mortality between immigrants in Sweden and in their country of birth?
Conclusion
The all-cause mortality risk was lower in the majority of immigrant groups in Sweden than in their country of birth, while CHD mortality risks varied more complexly.
Supporting Evidence
- Seven out of eight male immigrant groups had lower all-cause mortality in Sweden than in their country of birth.
- CHD mortality risk was lower for male immigrants from Norway, Finland, Germany, and Hungary.
- Male immigrants from Southern Europe had a higher CHD mortality risk in Sweden than in their country of birth.
Takeaway
This study found that many immigrants in Sweden live longer than they would have in their home countries, but some groups have higher heart disease risks after moving.
Methodology
The study analyzed all-cause and CHD mortality using data from Swedish national registers and WHO, comparing eight immigrant groups in Sweden to their countries of birth.
Potential Biases
Potential over-coverage of immigrant data due to unreported re-emigration.
Limitations
The study faced selection bias due to differences in data management across countries and lacked individual data on lifestyle or socio-economic factors.
Participant Demographics
The immigrant groups studied mainly arrived in Sweden between the 1940s and 1970s, with varying levels of education and socio-economic status.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
CI = 1.04–1.45 for Southern European men with higher CHD mortality risk.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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