Differences in Premature Mortality between Natives and Immigrants. A Study on Health Integration in the Recent Immigration in Spain

Rafael Grande , Universidad de Málaga
Juan Manuel García-González, University Pablo de Olavide Sevilla
Jesús García Gómez, Universidad de Salamanca
Alberto Del Rey Poveda, University of Salamanca
Mikolaj Stanek Baranowski, University of Salamanca

Objective: The aim of this research is analyzed of integration in health measured by indicators of premature mortality of the immigrant population in comparison with the native population in Spain for the period 2012-2015. Methods: We use linked data from the 2011 Population Census and data from the Natural Movement of Population death records for the years 2012-2015 along with data from the Municipal Register, both from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE). We calculate specific premature mortality rates, potential years of life lost (YPLL), and premature mortality risk models to compare health patterns among immigrants and the native population. Preliminary descriptive results: The first results indicate the existence of a "healthy migrant phenomenon" derived from the positive selection of the immigrant population. However, the data show important differences according to regions of origin, sex and different specific causes of death. Contribution: The research approach responds to a gap in both epidemiological literature and the integration process of immigrants in the Spanish case. The linkage of registry data offers an enormous potential to adequately control the possible existence of an immigrant health advantage or disadvantage.

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 Presented in Session 64. Immigrants' Health