Economic Development and Heart Disease in Hong Kong
Author Information
Author(s): Schooling C Mary, Lam Tai Hing, Ho Sai Yin, Mak Kwok Hang, Leung Gabriel M
Primary Institution: Dept of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong
Hypothesis
Does economic development contribute to sex differences in ischaemic heart disease mortality?
Conclusion
The study suggests that living in an economically developed environment increases the risk of premature ischaemic heart disease mortality in men but not in women.
Supporting Evidence
- Younger men in Hong Kong had a higher risk of IHD death compared to women.
- No sex difference in IHD mortality was found among migrants from Guangdong.
- The study captured 81% of all deaths registered in Hong Kong during the study period.
Takeaway
Boys born in rich places like Hong Kong are more likely to get heart disease when they grow up, but girls don't have the same risk.
Methodology
A population-based case-control study using multivariable logistic regression to analyze IHD mortality among Hong Kong Chinese.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include unhealthy migrant bias and differential responses to living conditions between men and women.
Limitations
The study may be affected by recall bias and the lack of data on age at migration and duration of residence.
Participant Demographics
Participants were ethnic Chinese residents of Hong Kong, with a majority being first or second generation migrants from Guangdong.
Statistical Information
P-Value
2.91
Confidence Interval
1.66 to 5.13
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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