Gender-related characteristics and disparities in estimated cardiovascular disease risk in a multi-ethnic general population: The HELIUS study.

Background: Differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk between men and women have been widely reported. However, risk differences by gender-related characteristics (sociocultural characteristics) have been poorly studied, although these characteristics may associate with cardiovascular health. We explored associations of three gender-related characteristics with estimated CVD risk in men and women within various ethnic groups.

The contribution of obesity to the population burden of high metabolic cardiovascular risk among different ethnic groups. The HELIUS study.

Background: The burden of cardiovascular risk is distributed unequally between ethnic groups. It is uncertain to what extent this is attributable to ethnic differences in general and abdominal obesity. Therefore, we studied the contribution of general and abdominal obesity to metabolic cardiovascular risk among different ethnic groups.

Eligibility for cardiovascular risk screening among different ethnic groups: The HELIUS study.

Background: Ethnic differences in the age-of-onset of cardiovascular risk factors may necessitate ethnic-specific age thresholds to initiate cardiovascular risk screening. Recent European recommendations to modify cardiovascular risk estimates among certain ethnic groups may further increase this necessity.

Aims: To determine ethnic differences in the age to initiate cardiovascular risk screening, with and without implementation of ethnic-specific modification of estimated cardiovascular risk.

Estimation of cardiovascular risk based on total cholesterol versus total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein within different ethnic groups: The HELIUS study.

Aims: European guidelines recommend estimating cardiovascular disease risk using the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) algorithm. Two versions of SCORE are available: one based on the total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and one based on total cholesterol alone. Cardiovascular risk classification between the two algorithms may differ, particularly among ethnic minority groups with a lipid profile different from the ethnic majority groups among whom the SCORE algorithms were validated.

Ethnic disparities in treatment rates for hypertension and dyslipidemia: an analysis by different treatment indications: the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting study.

Background: Studies have reported ethnic disparities in treatment rates for cardiovascular risk factors. These studies are generally based on treatment indications defined by individual cardiovascular risk factors (ICRF). However, according to most European guidelines, preventive treatment for these risk factors is recommended only among those with sufficient overall cardiovascular risk (OCR).

Increased cardiovascular disease risk in international migrants is independent of residence duration or cultural orientation: the HELIUS study.

Background: International migrants differ from host populations in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It has been postulated that these disparities narrow with longer residence duration. Our aim was to determine whether CVD risk still differs between migrants and host population after decades of residence and to determine whether this potential convergence of CVD risk would occur mainly among migrants with a strong cultural orientation towards the host culture.

Ethnic disparities in educational and occupational gradients of estimated cardiovascular disease risk: The Healthy Life in an Urban Setting study.

Background: European societies are becoming increasingly ethnically diverse. This may have important implications for socio-economic inequalities in health due to the often disadvantaged position of ethnic minority groups in both socio-economic status (SES) and disease, especially cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the socio-economic gradient of estimated CVD risk differs between ethnic groups.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms among patients with a chronic nonspecific lung disease in five ethnic minority groups.

Objective: Earlier studies found chronic nonspecific lung disease (CNSLD) to be associated with depressive symptoms. We aimed to assess whether the association between CNSLD and depressive symptoms varies between ethnic groups.

Methods: We used questionnaire data from 10916 participants of the HELIUS study in Amsterdam from six different ethnic groups.