Smoking and lipid cardiovascular risk factors in Vietnamese refugees in Australia

Epidemiology of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors among refugees and asylum seekers: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Methods and results

Conclusions

Lipid Levels in Refugees from Burma

Cardiovascular risk is common among resettled refugees from Southeast Asia, but the association with refugee status is unclear. This study investigated the lipid levels of Burmese refugees as compared to the general population of Burma. This observational study included adult refugees from Burma undergoing domestic medical examination at a clinic in Minnesota (n = 127). The cholesterol levels of the refugee cohort were compared to a survey of Burmese residents sampled by the World Health Organization (WHO). The primary variable of interest, mean LDL, was 118.9 mg/dL in the refugee cohort. Adjusting for sex and age-group, this was 18.5 mg/dL higher than the WHO cohort (95% CI 10.0-27.1 mg/dL, p < 0.001). This study confirmed previous studies showing elevated lipid levels among Asian refugees. This work added to prior studies by including a refugee cohort that was newly-resettled and comparing it to the general population.

Cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors among Syrian refugees in Turkey

BACKGROUND

Information on the world distribution of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in refugees/migrants is not available at the same rate for all countries or for different ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Today, Syria's humanitarian catastrophe has become a public health concern, which cannot be ignored.

METHODS

A search was conducted across PubMed and Google Scholar for papers on cardiovascular diseases among refugees/migrants worldwide with a focus on Syrian in Turkey.

RESULTS

The total number of papers identified through the database searches and from reference lists was 486. Of these, 62 were found to be relevant after further screening. A further 42 papers were considered not eligible after full-text, language and data assessments, resulting in a final 20 papers included in the qualitative analysis. These studies discussed several major themes: cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors among refugees/migrants, the effects of changing living conditions on refugees/migrants, the effects of psychological and socioeconomic factors, and the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in refugees/migrants. The risk of cardiovascular disease varied by country of origin, country of destination, and duration of residence. The findings suggest that cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors are increased for Syrian refugees in Turkey.

CONCLUSION

Raising awareness, prevention, early detection, and good management as well as monitoring and reporting of risk factors are the key components to controlling cardiovascular diseases in refugees. Further studies and greater acquisition of survey data are urgently needed.

Components of the Anger–hostility Complex as Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease Severity: A Multi-measure Study

Different forms of anger and hostility have been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD), though previous research has not measured all of these in one sample. To assess their relative predictive utility, a multi-measure study was undertaken of three adult outpatient groups: 97 men identified angiographically with stenosed coronary arteries; 28 men with valvular heart disorders in the absence of CAD; and 28 men attending a fracture clinic with no CAD present. Questionnaires measured: anger expression; anger experience; cynical hostility; ‘Ho' hostility; neurotic hostility; neurotic disagreeableness; resentment; and suspiciousness. The pre-eminent anger–hostility correlate of CAD was found to be expressed anger, with years as a smoker and age also being independently related to disease severity. Thus, seven of these anger/hostility variables do not warrant similar attention as anger expression in CAD aetiology. Further research should identify coronary toxic components of anger expression and of socio-occupational environments that afford or constrain their occurrence.

An ill wind? Climate change, migration, and health

BACKGROUND

Climate change is projected to cause substantial increases in population movement in coming decades. Previous research has considered the likely causal influences and magnitude of such movements and the risks to national and international security. There has been little research on the consequences of climate-related migration and the health of people who move.

OBJECTIVES

In this review, we explore the role that health impacts of climate change may play in population movements and then examine the health implications of three types of movements likely to be induced by climate change: forcible displacement by climate impacts, resettlement schemes, and migration as an adaptive response.

METHODS

This risk assessment draws on research into the health of refugees, migrants, and people in resettlement schemes as analogs of the likely health consequences of climate-related migration. Some account is taken of the possible modulation of those health risks by climate change.

DISCUSSION

Climate-change-related migration is likely to result in adverse health outcomes, both for displaced and for host populations, particularly in situations of forced migration. However, where migration and other mobility are used as adaptive strategies, health risks are likely to be minimized, and in some cases there will be health gains.

CONCLUSIONS

Purposeful and timely policy interventions can facilitate the mobility of people, enhance well-being, and maximize social and economic development in both places of origin and places of destination. Nevertheless, the anticipated occurrence of substantial relocation of groups and communities will underscore the fundamental seriousness of human-induced climate change.

Effects of diet and exercise on plasma vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in Vietnamese immigrant elderly in Sydney, Australia

Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with osteoporosis and fractures in the elderly. In Australia where there is a sizeable Vietnamese population, research has not yet clarified the roles of diet, exercise and sun exposure in determining vitamin D status. Plasma samples for 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D); dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium; muscle strength and sun exposure were measured and weekly dairy intake, exercise levels and smoking habits were surveyed in free-living elderly of Vietnamese and Australian/British origin. There was marginal vitamin D deficiency (<37 nmol/L 25(OH)D) in 63% of Vietnamese but only in 37% of Australian/British born. Low dairy intake and no vigorous exercise were best predictors of vitamin D deficiency in Vietnamese, taking into account age, gender, dietary intake and sun exposure. Since these migrant elderly may not get adequate sun exposure due to either clothing customs or cultural norms that encourage fair (untanned) skin, it is important to encourage increased exercise and dairy intake.

The journey to wellness: stages of refugee health promotion and disease prevention

Refugees experience a threefold challenge to their health and well-being: 1) psychiatric disorders precipitated by the refugee experience, 2) infectious and parasitic diseases endemic to countries of origin, and 3) chronic diseases endemic to host countries. This paper documents the "journey to wellness" in which these challenges are faced in stages by the refugees themselves and by the array of health and social service agencies committed to providing refugee assistance. Using the experience of a consortium of agencies in San Diego as an example, we examine the interaction between these challenges and the mobilization of organizations to develop a program of health promotion and disease prevention for Somali and other East African refugees. This mobilization involves a series of steps designed to facilitate refugee confidence, comprehension, and compliance with prevention efforts through community-provider partnerships and negotiation between refugee and organizational explanatory models of disease causation and prevention.

A descriptive study of hypertension in Vietnamese Americans

This study focused on the extent of hypertension (HTN) and risk factors in 201 Vietnamese in a Gulf Coast community. Blood pressure and pulse were measured by a Welch-Allyn Vital Signs Monitor (Model AD-9000, Armstrong Medical, Lincolnshire, IL). The survey tool consisted of demographic information, health status, medications, dietary habits, smoking and alcohol use, education, family configuration, family health history, and 12 true or false items on HTN knowledge. Participants believed that HTN was inherited, presented symptoms, was caused by stress and lack of daily exercise, and had no cure. Of the factors correlated with high blood pressure, the most significant item was the total knowledge score. Nearly 44% of the participants in this sample were hypertensive. Other significant correlation findings included smoking r = .45, p < .05) and exercise r = .15, p < .05) were related to high blood pressure. Cultural sensitivity was found to be critical in the data collection process. This study demonstrates a profound need for health education related to cardiovascular disease, smoking, and alcohol use in Vietnamese Americans.