Health on the move: cardiovascular disease risk among ageing male migrants in India

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with a growing burden in low- and middle-income countries such as India. Rapid urbanization, lifestyle changes, and demographic shifts have made internal migration a critical determinant of health. The present study aims to investigate the association between migration and CVD among older males in India.

Methods

Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI Wave-1), including 29,944 male respondents aged 45 years and above. Descriptive statistics, multivariate logistic regression, and Fairlie decomposition analysis were employed to analyze the association between migration and self-reported CVD. Migration streams were categorized as rural–rural, rural–urban, urban–rural, and urban–urban.

Results

Migrants had significantly higher odds of CVD compared to non-migrants (Adjusted OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.05–1.19). Migration streams involving urban exposure (rural–urban and urban–urban) were associated with a higher CVD risk. Longer duration of stay at the destination, inter-state and early-life migration were also associated with increased CVD risk. Urban residence, higher education, better economic status, and being unemployed were independently associated with elevated CVD risk. Fairlie decomposition showed that 81% of the CVD disparity between migrants and non-migrants could be explained by observed factors, with place of residence (50.25%), education (18.85%), and MPCE quintile (9.23%) being the major contributors.

Conclusion

Migration, particularly to or within urban areas, is significantly associated with increased CVD risk among older Indian males. The findings underscore the need for public health policies that address urban lifestyle risks and improve health monitoring and preventive care for migrant populations.