Dataset Information

Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is little verified information on the global health status of undocumented migrants (UMs). Our aim is to compare the prevalence of the main chronic diseases and of multimorbidity in undocumented migrants, documented migrants, and Spanish nationals in a Spanish autonomous community.

Methods

Retrospective observational study of all users of the public health system of the region of Aragon over 1 year (2011): 930,131 Spanish nationals; 123,432 documented migrants (DMs); and 17,152 UMs. Binary logistic regression was performed to examine the association between migrant status (Spanish nationals versus DMs and UMs) and both multimorbidity and individual chronic diseases, adjusting for age and sex.

Results

The prevalence of individual chronic diseases in UMs was lower than in DMs and much lower than in Spanish nationals. Comparison with the corresponding group of Spanish nationals revealed odds ratios (OR) of 0.1-0.3 and 0.3-0.5 for male and female UMs, respectively (p < 0.05 in all cases). The risk of multimorbidity was lower for UMs than DMs, both for men (OR, 0.12; 95%CI 0.11-0.13 versus OR, 0.53; 95%CI 0.51-0.54) and women (OR, 0.18; 95%CI 0.16-0.20 versus OR, 0.74; 95%CI 0.72-0.75).

Conclusions

Analysis of data from a health system that offers universal coverage to all immigrants, irrespective of legal status, reveals that the prevalence of chronic disease and multimorbidity is lower in UMs as compared with both DMs and Spanish nationals. These findings refute previous claims that the morbidity burden in UM populations is higher than that of the native population of the host country.

SUBMITTER: Gimeno-Feliu LA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7336489 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths.

Gimeno-Feliu Luis Andrés LA Pastor-Sanz Marta M Poblador-Plou Beatriz B Calderón-Larrañaga Amaia A Díaz Esperanza E Prados-Torres Alexandra A

International journal for equity in health 20200706 1

<h4>Background</h4>There is little verified information on the global health status of undocumented migrants (UMs). Our aim is to compare the prevalence of the main chronic diseases and of multimorbidity in undocumented migrants, documented migrants, and Spanish nationals in a Spanish autonomous community.<h4>Methods</h4>Retrospective observational study of all users of the public health system of the region of Aragon over 1 year (2011): 930,131 Spanish nationals; 123,432 documented migrants (DM ...[more]

PMID: 32631325

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectivesWe aimed to map the social determinants of meeting the healthcare needs of undocumented migrants living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) throughout their migration journey (from the country of origin to the country(/ies) of transit and destination).DesignWe conducted a scoping review.Data sourcesWe searched literature in Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar.Eligibility criteriaWe included articles that describe interventions, programmes or policies for undocumented migrants living with cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, or diabetes. There were no restrictions by setting (eg, hospital, community or mobile clinic) or country. We included articles published in English, Spanish, or French between 2000 to 2022.Data extraction and synthesisThe data were structured according to the Commission on Social Determinants of Health framework, differentiated along the migration journey (country of origin, transit, departure and integration, and country of destination). A new conceptual model emerged from data synthesis.ResultsWe included 22 studies out of 953 identified articles. They reported data from Italy, the USA, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, France, Austria, and Sweden. They show that individual determinants (material, biological, psychosocial and behavioural) evolve throughout the migration journey and influence healthcare needs. The satisfaction of these needs is conditioned by health system-related determinants such as availability and accessibility. However, the individual and health-system determinants depend on the political and legal context of both the country of origin and the country(/ies) of destination, as well as on the socioeconomic position of undocumented migrants in the destination country.ConclusionsMigrant health policies should aim at better responding to NCDs-related healthcare needs of undocumented migrants throughout their migration journey, taking into account the social, economic and legal factors that underlie their health vulnerability.

Project description:BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity is common among ageing populations and it affects the demand for health services. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between multimorbidity (i.e. the number of diseases and specific combinations of diseases) and the use of general practice services in the Dutch population of 55 years and older. METHODS: Data on diagnosed chronic diseases, contacts (including face-to-face consultations, phone contacts, and home visits), drug prescription rates, and referral rates to specialised care were derived from the Netherlands Information Network of General Practice (LINH), limited to patients whose data were available from 2006 to 2008 (N=32,583). Multimorbidity was defined as having two or more out of 28 chronic diseases. Multilevel analyses adjusted for age, gender, and clustering of patients in general practices were used to assess the association between multimorbidity and service utilization in 2008. RESULTS: Patients diagnosed with multiple chronic diseases had on average 18.3 contacts (95% CI 16.8 19.9) per year. This was significantly higher than patients with one chronic disease (11.7 contacts (10.8 12.6)) or without any (6.1 contacts (5.6 6.6)). A higher number of chronic diseases was associated with more contacts, more prescriptions, and more referrals to specialized care. However, the number of contacts per disease decreased with an increasing number of diseases; patients with a single disease had between 9 to 17 contacts a year and patients with five or more diseases had 5 or 6 contacts per disease per year. Contact rates for specific combinations of diseases were lower than what would be expected on the basis of contact rates of the separate diseases. CONCLUSION: Multimorbidity is associated with increased health care utilization in general practice, yet the increase declines per additional disease. Still, with the expected rise in multimorbidity in the coming decades more extensive health resources are required.

Dataset Information

Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths.

Similar Datasets

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