Research Article

Immigrant Health Inequalities in the United States: Use of Eight Major National Data Systems

Table 2

Average annual age-adjusted death rates for selected major causes of death by nativity/immigrant status, United States, 1999–2001.

Cause of deathMaleFemale
US-bornForeign-bornRate US-born Foreign-bornRate
RateSERateSERatioRateSERateSERatio

All-cause mortality1092.800.60846.601.590.77*734.80.39619.01.100.84*
 Non-Hispanic white1019.600.60993.002.600.97*717.30.42716.31.791.00
 Black1463.802.31883.308.170.60*971.51.49614.05.300.63*
 Asian/Pacific Islander744.806.13666.603.510.89*463.24.38468.02.601.01
 Hispanic937.803.35736.403.020.79*604.42.25507.22.000.84*
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD)420.400.39354.401.080.84*286.30.24274.60.700.96*
 Non-Hispanic white392.400.39411.201.611.05*278.00.26304.01.001.09*
 Black533.901.48353.205.450.66*397.90.98275.83.600.69*
 Asian/Pacific Islander310.704.09279.602.390.90*181.42.79209.31.801.15*
 Hispanic339.202.18293.002.040.86*230.91.47218.91.400.95*
All cancers combined257.600.29193.500.780.75*169.30.20135.80.530.80*
 Non-Hispanic white247.100.30237.601.280.96*169.60.22171.40.941.01
 Black355.301.19218.804.170.62*203.70.70140.42.420.69*
 Asian/Pacific Islander180.403.08161.501.690.90*122.22.33107.21.140.88*
 Hispanic193.401.56158.701.430.82*119.40.99104.60.910.88*
Stomach cancer5.900.0410.800.181.83*2.900.035.800.112.00*
 Non-Hispanic white4.900.0411.600.282.36*2.400.035.400.162.27*
 Black13.000.2314.201.051.106.400.137.300.571.15
 Asian/Pacific Islander13.900.8612.500.470.907.300.567.500.311.03
 Hispanic10.600.378.900.330.83*5.500.225.100.200.93
Liver and IBD cancer6.400.059.800.171.52*2.700.034.800.101.76*
 Non-Hispanic white5.800.057.400.241.29*2.500.033.500.131.37*
 Black9.400.1810.000.811.063.900.104.700.441.20
 Asian/Pacific Islander9.100.6919.000.532.08*4.100.428.100.311.98*
 Hispanic13.90.397.900.310.57*4.800.205.200.211.07
Unintentional injuries51.300.1339.700.330.77*22.900.0716.900.210.74*
 Non-Hispanic white49.700.1451.400.821.04*23.200.0923.000.540.99
 Black62.800.4336.301.470.58*23.600.2315.300.890.65*
 Asian/Pacific Islander28.501.1125.400.650.89*13.100.7014.100.441.08
 Hispanic48.800.6142.500.550.87*17.900.3414.900.340.83*
Suicide18.900.0711.300.160.60*4.200.032.900.080.69*
 Non-Hispanic white20.600.0920.600.451.004.700.045.500.231.15*
 Black10.700.168.400.530.78*1.800.061.500.200.84
 Asian/Pacific Islander13.200.728.700.310.65*2.500.293.500.181.38*
 Hispanic11.900.289.200.270.78*2.100.101.400.090.68*
Homicide9.800.0510.500.151.08*3.000.032.600.100.86*
 Non-Hispanic white4.500.048.400.341.89*2.100.032.900.211.36*
 Black39.500.2922.900.840.58*7.900.124.200.390.54*
 Asian/Pacific Islander4.600.385.700.241.24*2.200.262.300.151.04
 Hispanic12.800.2412.200.230.953.300.122.600.140.76*

Death rates are per 100,000 population and are age-adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 US standard population.
SE: standard error; Rate ratio: ratio of mortality rate for immigrants to that for the US-born. * . US- or native-born are individuals born in the 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and other US territories. Immigrants refer to those born elsewhere.
Source: [7].