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Food Insecurity, Cardiometabolic Health, and Health Care in U.S.-Mexico Border Immigrant Adults: An Exploratory Study

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Abstract

Household food insecurity (HFI) has been linked to poorer cardiometabolic health and reduced health care access but few studies have examined these issues in the large Mexican immigrant population living on the U.S.-Mexico border. This exploratory study examined the association of HFI with cardiometabolic conditions and health care in 40–84 year urban border immigrants (n = 75). Data were collected on HFI, self-reported and clinical cardiometabolic conditions, health care sources and use. HFI affected 45% of participants. HFI was associated with self-reported and clinical diabetes but not hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, or metabolic syndrome. It also was associated with increased emergency room visits and hospitalizations but not source of primary health care or preventative health care use. These findings highlight the need for additional research on the relationship of HFI with cardiometabolic health and health care in border immigrants as well as reassessment of current immigrant food security and health laws and policies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the excellent technical assistance of the UTEP MPH Program Hispanic Health Disparities Student Working Group (JA Aguilera, CR Alvarez, JM Alvarez, R Gallegos, EJ Kipp, MC Matamoros, E Martinez, TA Mayorga, E Mejia, JJ Ramirez-Burciaga, A Raysoni, HN Sanford), the City of El Paso Department of Public Health, the Border Public Health Interest Group, the El Paso Housing Authority, and the Mexican Consulate in El Paso. We particularly wish to express our sincere appreciation to the study participants who graciously gave their valuable time to participate in the study.

Funding

Funding was provided by Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Healthcare Transformation Medicaid Waiver Operations/City of El Paso Department of Public Health.

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Correspondence to M. Margaret Weigel.

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Weigel, M.M., Armijos, R.X. Food Insecurity, Cardiometabolic Health, and Health Care in U.S.-Mexico Border Immigrant Adults: An Exploratory Study. J Immigrant Minority Health 21, 1085–1094 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0817-3

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