Yan Borne et al in a study published BMC Cardiovascular Diseases 2012 in Sweden assessed the association of immigrant status and the risk of heart failure with the role of hypertension and lifestyle factors.

The study involved about 26,559 volunteers without any prior history of myocardial infarction (MI) or heart failure. Nearly 3,129 of them were immigrants.

The team recorded the frequency of hospitalization due to heart failure during the follow-up phase.

The study results were:

1. Around 764 volunteers were hospitalized with heart failure being the primary diagnosis. Among them 166 had MI either before or simultaneous with heart failure.

2. It was seen that the frequency of hospitalization was 1.37 times more in the immigrants than the native Swedish people.

3. A noteworthy finding was that immigrants with large waist circumference were at the higher risk of heart failure.

4. The mortality within a year of hospitalization for heart failure was found to be low in non-Swedish individuals.

The experts concluded that the immigrant status was independently associated with long-term risk of hospitalization for heart failure.

Reference:

Immigrant status and increased risk of heart failure: the role of hypertension and life-style risk factors; Yan Borne et al; BMC Cardiovascular Diseases 2012