Is country of birth a risk factor for acute hospitalization for cardiovascular disease in Victoria, Australia?

Abstract

International mortality studies show that some subgroups of migrants have a higher risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) than the native-born. To investigate whether country of birth increases the risk for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cerebral infarction (stroke) hospitalization in Victoria, Australia. A retrospective analysis of Victorian AMI (ICD-10-AM codes I21 and I22) and stroke (ICD-10-AM I63 and I64) discharges from routinely collected hospital data in 2001-2002 was conducted. The outcome measures were directly age standardized rate ratios (RRs) of AMI and stroke hospitalization, calculated using 2001 Australian census data, with the Australian-born as the reference group. Mal..