**Background:** Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are leading causes of mortality and morbidity among women globally, with an estimated 523 million CVD cases and 18.6 million deaths in 2019. Migrant populations often face unique health disparities, yet CVD risk factors among Filipino women migrants in Korea compared to native-born Korean women and women in the Philippines are not well understood. This study aimed to assess and compare CVD risk factors across these three populations.
**Methods:** The analysis included 504 migrant Filipino women from the Filipino Women's Health and Diet Study (FiLWHEL, 2014–2016), age-matched (1:1) with 504 Filipino women from the 2013 Philippine National Nutrition Survey (NNS) and 504 Korean women from the 2013–2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Participants were aged 20–57 years. Anthropometric data, blood pressure, lipid profiles (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG), and glucose were measured. Obesity was defined using WHO cut-offs for Asian populations (BMI ≥30 kg/m²; waist circumference ≥88 cm). Hypertension was defined per 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines (SBP ≥140 or DBP ≥90 mmHg). Dyslipidemia was defined per 2005 AHA/NHLBI criteria (TC ≥200 mg/dL; LDL-C ≥130 mg/dL; HDL-C <50 mg/dL; TG ≥150 mg/dL). Elevated glucose was defined as ≥100 mg/dL. Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for energy intake, smoking, alcohol, education, employment, BMI, and waist circumference.
**Key Results:** Filipino women in Korea and the Philippines had higher proportions of overweight/obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m²: 30.9% and 33.5%, respectively) compared to Korean women (P<0.0001). The odds of obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) were significantly higher for Filipino women in Korea (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.15–4.51) and Filipino women in the Philippines (OR 3.49, 95% CI 1.59–7.64) compared to Korean women. For high waist circumference (≥88 cm), ORs were 2.36 (95% CI 1.53–3.63) and 3.34 (95% CI 1.96–5.68), respectively. Filipino women in Korea had the highest odds of hypertension (OR 5.51, 95% CI 3.18–9.56) compared to Korean women, while Filipino women in the Philippines had OR 2.38 (95% CI 1.19–4.79). Adjustment for obesity attenuated these associations. For dyslipidemia, Filipino women in the Philippines had significantly higher odds compared to Korean women: high TC ≥200 mg/dL (OR 8.83, 95% CI 5.30–14.71), low HDL-C <50 mg/dL (OR 7.46, 95% CI 4.87–11.44), high LDL-C ≥130 mg/dL (OR 3.25, 95% CI 2.13–4.98), and high TG ≥150 mg/dL (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.59–4.22). In contrast, Filipino women in Korea showed similar lipid profiles to Korean women. No significant differences in elevated glucose were observed across groups. Nutrient intake analysis showed Filipino women in the Philippines had the lowest intakes of total energy, protein, fat, calcium, vitamins A and C, iron, thiamin, and riboflavin, but the highest carbohydrate intake.
**Clinical Implications:** This study reveals that Filipino women migrants in Korea have a higher prevalence of obesity and hypertension compared to Korean women, yet their lipid profiles are similar, suggesting that migration to Korea may be associated with improved lipid profiles relative to women in the Philippines. The high hypertension risk among Filipino women in Korea may be related to dietary changes, including higher fat intake and exposure to the high-sodium Korean diet. The findings highlight the need for targeted cardiovascular screening and prevention programs for Filipino migrant women in Korea, particularly for hypertension and obesity management. Further prospective studies are warranted to examine CVD risk factors among Filipino women across different migration contexts and to understand the role of dietary acculturation and genetic factors.