Trends and Disparities in Socioeconomic and Behavioural Characteristics, Life Expectancy, and Cause-Specific Mortality of Native-Born and Foreign-Born Populations in the United States, 1979-2003

Trends in social & behavioural characteristics, life expectancy, & mortality patterns of immigrants & American-born citizens from 1979-2003 were analyzed. National mortality & census data were used to examine nativity differentials over time in health & social characteristics. Nativity differentials in mortality increased over time for major cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, unintentional injuries, & suicide, with immigrants experiencing generally lower mortality than the American-born in each period. In 1999-2001, immigrants had at least 30% lower mortality from suicide than American-born subjects. (45 refs.)