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Diabetes Among United States-Bound Adult Refugees, 2009–2014

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Abstract

We reported diabetes prevalence among all US-bound adult refugees and assessed factors associated with disease. We analyzed overseas medical evaluations of US-bound refugees from 2009 through 2014 by using CDC’s Electronic Disease Notification System. We identified refugees with diabetes by searching for diabetes-related keywords and medications in examination forms with text-parsing techniques. Age-adjusted prevalence rates were reported and factors associated with diabetes were assessed by using logistic regression. Of 248,850 refugees aged ≥18 years examined over 5 years, 5767 (2.3 %) had diabetes. Iraqis had the highest crude (5.1 %) and age-adjusted (8.9 %) prevalence of disease. Higher age group and body mass index were associated with diabetes in all regions. Diabetes prevalence varied by refugee nationality. Although the absolute rates were lower than rates in the United States, the prevalence is still concerning given the younger age of the population and their need for health services upon resettlement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Health Branch, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, MS E-03, Atlanta, GA, 30329-4018, USA

    Stephen R. Benoit, Weigong Zhou & John A. Painter

  2. Division of Diabetes Translation, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Edward W. Gregg

Authors
  1. Stephen R. Benoit
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  2. Edward W. Gregg
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  4. John A. Painter
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Correspondence to Stephen R. Benoit.

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Disclaimer The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Benoit, S.R., Gregg, E.W., Zhou, W. et al. Diabetes Among United States-Bound Adult Refugees, 2009–2014. J Immigrant Minority Health 18, 1357–1364 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0381-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0381-7

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