[Mortality from cardiovascular diseases in immigrants residing in Madrid]

To estimate the mortality from cardiovascular diseases in immigrants residing in one of the regions of Spain with the highest immigration rate during the early years of the 21st century.

The study included people aged 20 to 64 years of age residing in Madrid for the period 2000-2004. Mortality form cardiovascular disease in immigrants from different parts of the world was compared with the mortality in the native Spanish population. Mortality rates ratios adjusted for age, sex and per capita income in the area of residence were estimated.

Immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa and from South America showed, respectively, the highest and the lowest mortality rate ratio of cardiovascular diseases and ischemic heart disease. Immigrants from the region of Central America and the Caribbean showed the highest mortality rate ratio of cerebrovascular disease.

The pattern of cardiovascular disease mortality in immigrants residing in Madrid is quite similar to those found in studies made in other countries, and probably reflect the burden of disease in their places of origin.