Cardiovascular mortality among immigrants to England and Wales

The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) is analysing mortality of immigrants to England and Wales. On average, immigrants are healthier and have a lower mortality then people who remained in the country of origin—demonstrating the ‘selection’ effect of migration. For cardiovascular diseases, the mortality of immigrants reflects the pattern in the country from which they came. Thus, immigrants to England and Wales from France, Spain and Italy (low-rate countries) have a low standardized mortality ratio from ischaemic heart disease. Immigrants from the West Indies and Africa have a high mortality from hypertension and cerebrovascular disease. It is noted that the mortality from ischaemic heart disease is high among immigrants from India and Pakistan.