A recent study presented at the American College of Cardiology conference indicates that immigrants in the United States experience an increased risk of cardiovascular disease the longer they live in the country, underscoring the need for targeted health interventions.
Foreign-born immigrants in the United States initially enjoy a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to their U.S.-born peers. However, this health advantage erodes the longer they reside in the States, according to new research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Middle East 2025 Conference in Dubai.
The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2011-2016, which included health information from 15,965 adults. The study particularly focused on critical CVD risk factors, such as body mass index (BMI), diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and smoking habits.
The participants were sorted based on whether they were U.S.-born or foreign-born and further segmented by their length of stay in the United States — less than 15 years versus more than 15 years.
The findings are startling.
“We see that as immigrants are exposed to U.S. dietary and lifestyle habits for prolonged periods of time, it has a negative effect on their heart health,” co-author Krishna Moparthi, a medical student at John F. Kennedy University School of Medicine, said in a news release. “There is a need for targeted public health interventions that address the evolving cardiovascular health risks among immigrant populations and raise awareness on effective prevention strategies.”
The study discovered that 86.4% of U.S.-born individuals and 80.1% of foreign-born individuals had at least one CVD risk factor.
Moreover, foreign-born adults residing in the United States for less than 15 years exhibited a lower adjusted prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and smoking compared to U.S.-born adults.
However, those living in the United States for more than 15 years faced an increased prevalence of diabetes and hypercholesterolemia compared to their U.S.-born counterparts.
Additional insights from the study indicated that foreign-born, non-Hispanic Asian adults showed a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes, coupled with a lower prevalence of smoking, compared to their U.S.-born, non-Hispanic Asian peers, highlighting the complexity of the issue.
Several factors potentially contribute to the rising CVD risk among long-term immigrants:
- Over time, immigrants may adopt dietary patterns laden with processed foods, sugars and fats, and engage in more sedentary activities.
- Chronic stressors such as discrimination, financial hardships or unstable work conditions can exacerbate cardiovascular risk.
- Health benefits derived from traditional diets, physical activity habits and community/social support may dwindle with prolonged U.S. residence.
- Barriers to preventive care can delay diagnosis and treatment, increasing risk factors.
The researchers emphasized the importance of recognizing these patterns in clinical practice.
“Immigrants arrive with a cardiovascular health advantage, but this fades the longer they reside in the U.S. due to acculturation, stress and lifestyle changes,” Moparthi added. “Immigrants should proactively protect their health through screenings and maintaining protective behaviors, while clinicians must recognize duration of U.S. residence as a risk factor and provide culturally tailored prevention strategies.”
Source: American College of Cardiology