Laura Blue1, Andrew Fenelon. 1. Office of Population Research, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA. lblue@princeton.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In many developed countries, immigrants live longer-that is, have lower death rates at most or all ages-than native-born residents. This article tests whether different levels of smoking-related mortality can explain part of the 'healthy immigrant effect' in the USA, as well as part of the related 'Hispanic paradox': the tendency for US Hispanics to outlive non-Hispanic Whites. METHODS: With data from vital statistics and the national census, we calculate lung cancer death rates in 2000 for four US subpopulations: foreign-born, native-born, Hispanic and non-Hispanic White. We then use three different methods-the Peto-Lopez method, the Preston-Glei-Wilmoth method and a novel method developed in this article-to generate three alternative estimates of smoking-related mortality for each of the four subpopulations, extrapolating from lung cancer death rates. We then measure the contribution of smoking-related mortality to disparities in all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Taking estimates from any of the three methods, we find that smoking explains >50% of the difference in life expectancy at 50 years between foreign- and native-born men, and >70% of the difference between foreign- and native-born women; smoking explains >75% of the difference in life expectancy at 50 years between US Hispanic and non-Hispanic White men, and close to 75% of the Hispanic advantage among women. CONCLUSIONS: Low smoking-related mortality was the main reason for immigrants' and Hispanics' longevity advantage in the USA in 2000.
BACKGROUND: In many developed countries, immigrants live longer-that is, have lower death rates at most or all ages-than native-born residents. This article tests whether different levels of smoking-related mortality can explain part of the 'healthy immigrant effect' in the USA, as well as part of the related 'Hispanic paradox': the tendency for US Hispanics to outlive non-Hispanic Whites. METHODS: With data from vital statistics and the national census, we calculate lung cancer death rates in 2000 for four US subpopulations: foreign-born, native-born, Hispanic and non-Hispanic White. We then use three different methods-the Peto-Lopez method, the Preston-Glei-Wilmoth method and a novel method developed in this article-to generate three alternative estimates of smoking-related mortality for each of the four subpopulations, extrapolating from lung cancer death rates. We then measure the contribution of smoking-related mortality to disparities in all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Taking estimates from any of the three methods, we find that smoking explains >50% of the difference in life expectancy at 50 years between foreign- and native-born men, and >70% of the difference between foreign- and native-born women; smoking explains >75% of the difference in life expectancy at 50 years between US Hispanic and non-Hispanic White men, and close to 75% of the Hispanic advantage among women. CONCLUSIONS: Low smoking-related mortality was the main reason for immigrants' and Hispanics' longevity advantage in the USA in 2000.
Authors: Benjamin D Hallowell; Meheret Endeshaw; Matthew T McKenna; Virginia Senkomago; Hilda Razzaghi; Mona Saraiya Journal: Prev Med Date: 2019-06-18 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Veronica Wendy Setiawan; Pengxiao C Wei; Brenda Y Hernandez; Shelly C Lu; Kristine R Monroe; Loic Le Marchand; Jian Min Yuan Journal: Cancer Date: 2016-02-24 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Paulo S Pinheiro; Karen E Callahan; Francis P Boscoe; Raymond R Balise; Taylor R Cobb; David J Lee; Erin Kobetz Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2018-07-19 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: M Kristen Peek; Bret T Howrey; Rafael Samper Ternent; Laura A Ray; Kenneth J Ottenbacher Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2012-09-25 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Kim Pulvers; A Paula Cupertino; Taneisha S Scheuermann; Lisa Sanderson Cox; Yen-Yi Ho; Nicole L Nollen; Ruby Cuellar; Jasjit S Ahluwalia Journal: Ethn Dis Date: 2018-04-26 Impact factor: 1.847