Disease Burdens and Risk Factors for Diabetes, Hypertension, and Hyperlipidemia among Refugees in Buffalo, New York, 2004-2014.

INTRODUCTION

Limited is known about prevalence and risk factors for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia among refugees.

METHODS

At a refugee clinic in Buffalo, N.Y. (2004-2014), 1,570 adults were studied using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Prevalences of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were 7.8%, 24.1%, and 27.1%, respectively. Among refugees, 49.2% of diabetes and 46.7% of hypertension were uncontrolled. Obesity (odds ratio [OR]=2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.61-3.85) and length of stay (OR=1.25; 95%CI=1.16-1.35) were risk factors for diabetes. Eastern European origin (OR=4.09; 95%CI=2.00-8.38), obesity (OR=2.62; 95%CI=1.92-3.58), length of follow-up (OR=1.06; 95%CI=1.00-1.12), gender (OR=0.59; 95%CI=0.44-0.78) and tobacco use (OR=1.54; 95%CI=1.00-2.38) were associated with hypertension. Age (OR=1.02; 95%CI=1.01-1.04) was associated with hyperlipidemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Refugees had comparable burden of non-communicable diseases, but a greaterleast once during the study period proportion of refugees than of the U.S. population had uncontrolled conditions. Duration of follow-up, obesity, tobacco use, gender, age, and region of origin were risk factors for diagnosis. Culturally-tailored chronic disease management strategies are needed.