Introduction: the aim of this study was to determine the main social and cultural characteristics, symptoms and diagnoses in immigrants aged more than 60 years old from sub-Saharan Africa. Material and methods: the Medical records of all sub-Saharan immigrants aged > 60 years old attending the Immigrant Services Unit between February, 1993 and February, 2000 were reviewed. Results: we attended 161 immigrants aged more than 60 years old, of which 105 were from sub-Saharan Africa. The main reason for consulting (90.5%) was «not feeling well». The most frequent symptoms were pain in 75.2%, fever in 44.7%, constipation in 40%, and itching in 37.2%. The most frequent diagnoses were parasitosis/infections in 98% and hypertension in 62%. Three or more concomitant diagnoses were made in 93.2% of the patients. The final diagnoses bore little relation to the patients' symptoms. Conclusions: we found high morbidity and a strong prevalence of infectious/parasitic diseases and hypertension in the population studied. Description of symptoms showed significant cultural differences. Specific clinical protocols are useful and facilitate the initial approach.

Immigrants Sub-Saharan The elderly morbidity

symptomatology immigrant parasitosis human controlled study social aspect pain hypertension Aged pruritus morbidity male female Geriatric Assessment Review Africa medical record cultural factor major clinical study adult fever infection Constipation