Scientific Publications Database

Article Title: Hospitalization rates among economic immigrants to Canada
Authors: Ng, Edward; Sanmartin, Claudia; Manuel, Douglas G.
Journal: HEALTH REPORTS Volume 28 Issue 7
Date of Publication:2017
Abstract:
Background: Economic immigrants generally, and economic class principal applicants (ECPAs) specifically, tend to have better health than other immigrants, as well as the Canadian-born population. However, health outcomes vary among subcategories within this group, especially by sex.Methods: This study examines hospitalization rates among ECPAs aged 25 to 74 who arrived in Canada between 1980 and 2006 as skilled workers, business immigrants, or live-in caregivers. The analysis used two linked databases to estimate age-standardized hospitalization rates (ASHRs) overall and for leading causes by sex. ASHRs of ECPA subcategories were compared with each other and with those of the Canadian-born population. Logistic regression was used to derive odds ratios for hospitalization among ECPAs, by sex.Results: Male and female ECPAs aged 25 to 74 had significantly lower all-cause ASHRs than did the Canadian-born population in the same age range. This pattern prevailed for each ECPA subcategory and for each disease examined. Compared with skilled workers, business immigrants had lower odds of hospitalization; live-in caregivers who arrived after 1992 had higher odds. Adjustment for education, official language proficiency, and world region reduced the strength of or eliminated these associations.Interpretation: Compared with the Canadian-born population, ECPAs generally had lower hospitalization rates. Differences were apparent among ECPA subcategories.