Advertisement
ADVANCED SEARCH

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sheth, T. Articles by Yusuf, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sheth, T. Articles by Yusuf, S. Related Collections Socioeconomic determinants of health Ischemic heart disease Other oncology

Cardiovascular and cancer mortality among Canadians of European, south Asian and Chinese origin from 1979 to 1993

an analysis of 1.2 million deaths

From (Sheth, Anand, Yusuf) the Division of Cardiology and the Preventive Cardiology and Therapeutics Programme, Hamilton Civic Hospitals Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., and (Nair) Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ont. (Nargundkar) Mr. Nargundkar is deceased.

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease and cancer are important health problems worldwide, yet our knowledge of these conditions is derived principally from populations of European descent. To investigate ethnic variations in major causes of death in Canada, the authors examined total and cause-specific mortality among European, south Asian, and Chinese Canadians.

Methods: Canadians of European, south Asian and Chinese origin were identified in the Canadian Mortality Database by last name and country of birth and in the population census by self-reported ethnicity. Age-standardized death rates by cause, per 100 000 population, were calculated for ages 35 to 74 years from 1979 to 1993 and in 5-year intervals grouped around census years (1979/83, 1984/88 and 1989/93).

Results: Rates of death from ischemic heart disease were highest among Canadians of south Asian origin (men 320.2, women 144.5) and European origin (men 319.6, women 109.9) and were markedly lower among Canadians of Chinese origin (men 107.0, women 40.0); the rates declined significantly in all 3 groups over the study period. Rates of death from cerebrovascular disease were relatively low and showed less ethnic variation (Canadian men of European, south Asian and Chinese origin 49.5, 47.0 and 45.8 respectively; Canadian women of European, south Asian and Chinese origin 34.8, 39.0 and 42.2 respectively) and declined similarly in all groups over time. Rates of death from cancer were highest among Canadians of European origin (men 343.6, women 236.2), intermediate among those of Chinese origin (men 258.1, women 161.6) and lowest among those of south Asian origin (men 122.3, women 131.3). Over time, cancer mortality increased in Canadians of European origin but remained constant or declined in those of south Asian and Chinese origin.

Interpretation: Substantial differences exist in rates of death from ischemic heart disease and cancer among European, south Asian and Chinese Canadians.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Gupta, M. F. B. Braga, H. Teoh, M. Tsigoulis, and S. Verma Statin Effects on LDL and HDL Cholesterol in South Asian and White Populations J. Clin. Pharmacol., July 1, 2009; 49(7): 831 - 837. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Zaman, A. M. Crook, C. Junghans, N. K. Fitzpatrick, G. Feder, A. D. Timmis, and H. Hemingway Ethnic differences in long-term improvement of angina following revascularization or medical management: a comparison between south Asians and white Europeans J Public Health, March 1, 2009; 31(1): 168 - 174. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. A. Khan, A. Palepu, M. Norena, N. Ayas, H. Wong, D. Chittock, M. Hameed, and P. M. Dodek Differences in Hospital Mortality Among Critically Ill Patients of Asian, Native Indian, and European Descent Chest, December 1, 2008; 134(6): 1217 - 1222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Asghar, R. H. Pratt, J. S. Kammerer, and T. R. Navin Tuberculosis in South Asians Living in the United States, 1993-2004 Arch Intern Med, May 12, 2008; 168(9): 936 - 942. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. King, P. LeBlanc, W. Carr, and Hude Quan Chinese Immigrants' Management of Their Cardiovascular Disease Risk West J Nurs Res, November 1, 2007; 29(7): 804 - 826. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S.H. Wild, C. Fischbacher, A. Brock, C. Griffiths, and R. Bhopal Mortality from all causes and circulatory disease by country of birth in England and Wales 2001-2003 J Public Health, June 1, 2007; 29(2): 191 - 198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Brister, Z. Hamdulay, S. Verma, M. Maganti, and M. R. Buchanan Ethnic diversity: South Asian ethnicity is associated with increased coronary artery bypass grafting mortality J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., January 1, 2007; 133(1): 150 - 154. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Gupta, N. Singh, and S. Verma South Asians and Cardiovascular Risk: What Clinicians Should Know Circulation, June 27, 2006; 113(25): e924 - e929. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Mukhopadhyay, N. Sattar, and M. Fisher Review: Diabetes and cardiac disease in South Asians The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, September 1, 2005; 5(5): 253 - 259. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. L Thomas and S. D. Thomas Displacement and health Br. Med. Bull., June 1, 2004; 69(1): 115 - 127. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.-H. Mak, K.-S. Chia, J.D. Kark, T. Chua, C. Tan, B.-H. Foong, Y.-L. Lim, and S.-K. Chew Ethnic differences in acute myocardial infarction in Singapore Eur. Heart J., January 2, 2003; 24(2): 151 - 160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Gupta, A. V. Doobay, N. Singh, S. S. Anand, F. Raja, F. Mawji, J. Kho, A. Karavetian, Q. Yi, and S. Yusuf Risk factors, hospital management and outcomes after acute myocardial infarction in South Asian Canadians and matched control subjects Can. Med. Assoc. J., March 1, 2002; 166(6): 717 - 722. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Yusuf, S. Reddy, S. Ounpuu, and S. Anand Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases: Part II: Variations in Cardiovascular Disease by Specific Ethnic Groups and Geographic Regions and Prevention Strategies Circulation, December 4, 2001; 104(23): 2855 - 2864. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Yusuf, S. Reddy, S. Ounpuu, and S. Anand Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases: Part I: General Considerations, the Epidemiologic Transition, Risk Factors, and Impact of Urbanization Circulation, November 27, 2001; 104(22): 2746 - 2753. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Corrections Can. Med. Assoc. J., September 1, 1999; 161(5): 489. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. O'Loughlin Understanding the role of ethnicity in chronic disease: a challenge for the new millennium Can. Med. Assoc. J., July 1, 1999; 161(2): 152 - 153. [Full Text] [PDF]

HOME	CURRENT ISSUE	PAST ISSUES	COLLECTIONS	HELP	SEARCH
Copyright 1995-1999, Canadian Medical Association. All rights reserved. ISSN 1488-2329 (e) 0820-3946 (p) All editorial matter in CMAJ represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Canadian Medical Association.