Cardiovascular Health and Related Health Care Use of Moluccan-Dutch Immigrants

OBJECTIVE Studies regularly show a higher incidence, prevalence and mortality of cardiovascular disease among immigrant groups from low-income countries. Despite residing in the Netherlands for over 60 years, the Moluccan-Dutch cardiovascular disease profile and health care use are still unknown. We aimed to compare (a) the clinical prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and (b) the use of health care services by cardiovascular disease patients of 5,532 Moluccan-Dutch to an age-sex matched control group of 55,320 native Dutch. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data of the Achmea health insurance company for the period of 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2010. We collected information on health care use, including diagnostic information. Linear and logistic regression models were used for comparison. RESULTS Moluccans had a higher clinical prevalence of ischemic heart diseases (odds ratio 1.26; 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.56), but tended to have a lower prevalence of cerebrovascular accidents (0.79; 0.56-1.11) and cardiac failure (0.67; 0.44-1.03). The clinical prevalence of cardiovascular diseases together tended to be lower among Moluccans (0.90; 0.80-1.00). Consultation of medical specialists did not differ. Angiotensin II inhibitors (1.42; 1.09-1.84), antiplatelet agents (1.27; 1.01-1.59) and statins (1.27; 1.00-1.60) were prescribed more frequently to Moluccans, as were cardiovascular agents in general (1.27; 0.94-1.71). CONCLUSION The experience of Moluccans in the Netherlands suggests that, in the long run, cardiovascular risk and related health care use of ethnic minority groups may converge towards that of the majority population.