Commodore-Mensah Y, et al. - Researchers analyzed and contrasted the prevalence of diagnosed hypertension, overweight/obesity, and diagnosed diabetes among a socioeconomically diverse sample of immigrants in the United States (US), presuming that considerable variability would exist in the prevalence of hypertension, overweight and diabetes. They found that the burden of overweight/obesity and diabetes was highest among immigrants from Mexico/Central America/Caribbean and the Indian subcontinent. The highest burden of hypertension was reported in those from Southeast Asia and Russia.

Methods

• In this cross-sectional analysis of the 2010–2016 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a total of 41,717 immigrants born in Europe, South America, Mexico/Central America/Caribbean, Russia, Africa, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Asia and Southeast Asia were included.
• Researchers assessed the prevalence of diagnosed hypertension, overweight/obesity, and diagnosed diabetes.

Results

• Findings demonstrated Russian (24.2%) and Southeast Asian immigrants (23.5%) had the highest multivariable adjusted prevalence of diagnosed hypertension.
• In immigrants from Mexico/Central America/Caribbean and the Indian subcontinent, the highest prevalence of overweight/obesity (71.5 and 73.4%, respectively) and diagnosed diabetes (9.6 and 10.1%, respectively) was reported.
• Higher prevalence of overweight/obesity (Prevalence Ratio (PR): 1.19[95% CI, 1.13–1.24]) and (PR: 1.22[95% CI, 1.14–1.29]), and diabetes (PR: 1.70[95% CI, 1.42–2.03]) and (PR: 1.78[95% CI, 1.36–2.32]) was reported in immigrants from Mexico/Central America/Caribbean and the Indian subcontinent respectively, relative to European immigrants.
• Data showed African immigrants and Middle Eastern immigrants had a higher prevalence of diabetes (PR: 1.41[95% CI, 1.01–1.96]) and PR: 1.57(95% CI: 1.09–2.25), respectively, than European immigrants —without a corresponding higher prevalence of overweight/obesity.