Abstract
AIMS: In this study, the 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) event risk score of three major migrant origin groups was calculated and compared with the general Finnish population. Furthermore, the study examined the association of insufficient serum D-vitamin concentrations (≤50 nmol/L) with CVD event risk. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (Maamu 2010-2012; n = 881) was used. Participants in the Health 2011 study (n = 798) constituted the reference group. The 10-year CVD event risk scores were calculated with the Framingham risk score (FHS). Logistic regression analysis determined the association between insufficient vitamin D concentrations and increased CVD event risk. RESULTS: Migrant origin participants were younger and had a lower proportion of those with moderate or high 10-year CVD event risk (Russian 12.4%, 95% CI 17.5-25.0, Somali 5.7%; 95% CI 3.2-10.1, Kurdish 9.2%; 95% CI 6.7-12.5) than the general Finnish population (21.0%; 95% CI 17.5-25.0), while they had higher prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (Russian 28.35%, 95% CI 23.48-33.23, Somali 72.85%, 95% CI 66.9-78.71, Kurdish 84.96%, 95% CI 81.15-88.76) than the general Finnish population (6.52%, 95% CI 4.80-8.23). Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with moderate to high 10-year CVD event risk (PR 1.32, 95% CI 1.00-1.32) after multivariable adjustment. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with an elevated estimated 10-year CVD risk in this study. These findings highlight the need for further longitudinal research in larger and more diverse migrant-origin populations.