Trends in Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Canada: Variation by Migration and Temporal Factors, 2001-2018

Abstract

BackgroundCardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in Canada, but how the major cardiovascular risk factors vary across ethnicity and immigration status has yet to be examined. MethodsUsing data from the Canadian Community Health Surveys, national trends in health conditions (hypertension, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, and obesity) and health behaviours (smoking, activity levels, and alcohol consumption) were estimated from 2001 to 2018. In this cross-sectional study, the trends were then compared across sex, age, ethnicity, and immigration status. ResultsA total of 1,065,391 respondents were examined from 2001 to 2018. During the study period, the prevalence of the following risk factors increased in Canada over time: diabetes by 54.5%, hypertension by 23.4%, and obesity by 32.3%. For health behaviours, smoking decreased overall, especially in racialized populations. Heavy drinking was most prevalent for non-racialized and non-Indigenous Canadian-born populations and the lowest for racialized immigrants. Physical inactivity was most prevalent for racialized immigrant populations. The prevalence of self-reported heart disease decreased by 21.0%, except for racialized established immigrants (10 or more years since immigrating to Canada) with a 4.2% increase. ConclusionsDuring this study period, there were decreases in smoking and physical inactivity, along with increases in obesity, diabetes, and hypertension prevalence. By migration group status, established immigrants in Canada had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors compared to their Canadian-born counterparts. Migration gaps should be considered in future interventions targeted at reducing these cardiovascular risk factors in Canada.