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 co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Equity in Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-020-01225-0 |
| _version_ | 1819015981758939136 |
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| author | Luis Andrés Gimeno-Feliu Marta Pastor-Sanz Beatriz Poblador-Plou Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga Esperanza Díaz Alexandra Prados-Torres |
| author_facet | Luis Andrés Gimeno-Feliu Marta Pastor-Sanz Beatriz Poblador-Plou Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga Esperanza Díaz Alexandra Prados-Torres |
| author_sort | Luis Andrés Gimeno-Feliu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:40:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5398c5f26a7f4685835dbb7a0e6c2d8d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-9276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:40:22Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-5398c5f26a7f4685835dbb7a0e6c2d8d2022-12-21T19:18:42ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762020-07-011911910.1186/s12939-020-01225-0Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the mythsLuis Andrés Gimeno-Feliu0Marta Pastor-Sanz1Beatriz Poblador-Plou2Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga3Esperanza Díaz4Alexandra Prados-Torres5EpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragón Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Miguel Servet University HospitalAragón Healthcare Service, Utrillas Health CentreEpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragón Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Miguel Servet University HospitalEpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragón Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Miguel Servet University HospitalDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Research Group for General Practice, University of BergenEpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragón Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Miguel Servet University HospitalAbstract 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.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-020-01225-0Emigration and immigrationPrimary health careMultimorbidityChronic diseaseSpainHealth status |
| spellingShingle | Luis Andrés Gimeno-Feliu Marta Pastor-Sanz Beatriz Poblador-Plou Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga Esperanza Díaz Alexandra Prados-Torres Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths International Journal for Equity in Health Emigration and immigration Primary health care Multimorbidity Chronic disease Spain Health status |
| title | Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths |
| title_full | Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths |
| title_fullStr | Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths |
| title_short | Multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants: evidence to contradict the myths |
| title_sort | multimorbidity and chronic diseases among undocumented migrants evidence to contradict the myths |
| topic | Emigration and immigration Primary health care Multimorbidity Chronic disease Spain Health status |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-020-01225-0 |
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