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Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Among Recent Immigrants with Implications for Primary care; a Comprehensive Immigrant Health Approach

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Abstract

Data on health status of immigrants and practice recommendations for providers are scarce. We evaluated 99 recent immigrants from developing nations in an immigrant clinic in New York City to assess epidemiology of diseases and to recommend potential screening. Providers received ongoing training. Majority patient was from West Africa and Central America with a mean of 2.1 years in the US. Two thirds were uninsured. Half had positive PPD. Half had prior hepatitis B infection, which was higher in Africans. One quarter had intestinal parasites. Two thirds were overweight; 33% had hypercholesterolemia, 26% were hypertensive, and 25% of women had a Pap smear previously. Eosinophila was higher in African and males (P < 0.05) but didn’t predict stool O&P. Recent immigrants were at risk for chronic non-communicable diseases, similar to the US population. Providers should balance their focus on communicable and non-communicable diseases. We recommend practice-based training and on-site comprehensive health services.

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Acknowledgments

Authors wish to thank Dr. Gerald Paccione, Professor of Medicine and Social Medicine for his invaluable efforts and vision to initiate and support the Montefiore’s Immigrant and Refugee Clinic.

Conflict of interest

Authors declare no financial and conflict of interest for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Preventive Medicine, Medicine, and Medical Education, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L Levy Place, Box 1255, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Ramin Asgary

  2. Department of Medical Education, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L Levy Place, Box 1255, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Ramesh Naderi

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L Levy Place, Box 1255, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Kristin A. Swedish

  4. Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA

    Clyde L. Smith

  5. Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L Levy Place, Box 1255, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Blanca Sckell

  6. Valley Homeless Healthcare Program, San Jose, CA, USA

    Sara Doorley

Authors
  1. Ramin Asgary
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  2. Ramesh Naderi
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  3. Kristin A. Swedish
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  4. Clyde L. Smith
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  5. Blanca Sckell
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  6. Sara Doorley
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramin Asgary.

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Asgary, R., Naderi, R., Swedish, K.A. et al. Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Among Recent Immigrants with Implications for Primary care; a Comprehensive Immigrant Health Approach. J Immigrant Minority Health 13, 990–995 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9476-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9476-3

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