All-cause and cause-specific mortality differences between migrant workers and local workers: a population-based...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology
• Sociomedical Sciences

Background:

• Migrant workers often face precarious employment in hazardous industries.
• Limited data exists on the comparative mortality risks of foreign-born versus local-born workers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare all-cause and cause-specific mortality between foreign-born and Danish-born workers.
• To identify specific foreign-born worker groups at elevated risk.
• To investigate the influence of economic sector and occupation on mortality disparities.

Main Methods:

• Nationwide register-based cohort study in Denmark (2015-2022).
• Inclusion of migrant workers with residence permits and matched Danish-born workers.
• Survival analysis using extended Cox models for mortality risk estimation.
• Subgroup analyses by region of birth, economic sector, and occupation.

Main Results:

• Male migrant workers from Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia exhibited a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.30) and accident-related deaths (HR=1.64) compared to Danish-born workers.
• These disparities were partly explained by higher representation in high-risk sectors like agriculture and construction.
• Within elementary occupations, migrant workers from these regions showed elevated all-cause (HR=1.70) and accident mortality (HR=1.51).

Conclusions:

• Migrant workers from Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia face a disproportionately higher risk of accidental death.
• Employment in high-risk sectors and elementary occupations significantly contributes to this increased mortality.
• Addressing structural determinants of health is crucial for preventing avoidable deaths among vulnerable migrant populations.