BMC Public Health
Volume 18, Issue 1, 2018

Multimorbidity and mortality thereof, among non-western refugees and family reunification immigrants in Denmark - A register based cohort study (Article) (Open Access)

Taleshan N.* , Petersen J.H. , Schioetz M.L. , Juul-Larsen H.G. , Norredam M.
  • a Section of Immigrant Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
  • b Section of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • c Intersectoral Research Unit for Health Services, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, NV, Denmark, Research Unit for Chronic Conditions, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, NV, Denmark
  • d Optimized Senior Patient Program, Clinical Research Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research-Copenhagen (PMR-C), Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark, Department of Physiotherapy, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
  • e Section of Immigrant Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark, Department of Public Health, Danish Research Centre for Migration, Ethnicity and Health, Section of Health Services Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of multimorbidity, defined by having two or more chronic diseases, is increasing in many Western countries. Simultaneously, the migrant population in Western countries has increased, making up a growing proportion of European populations. This study aims i) to determine the quantity and quality of multimorbidity patterns among refugees and family reunification immigrants from non-Western countries compared to Danish-born, and ii) to compare the mortality burden among those with multimorbidity in the two groups. Methods: Through the Danish Immigration Service, we conducted a historically prospective cohort study. We identified a total of 101,894 adult migrants who were sub-categorised into refugees and family reunification immigrants, and matched them to a Danish-born comparison group 1:6 on age and sex. Through the Danish National Patient Registry, we obtained information on all in- and outpatient data on hospitalised and ambulatory patients. To assess multimorbidity we used Charlson Comorbidity Index based on ICD-10 codes, together with ICD-10 diagnostic categories for psychiatric disease. We used Cox regression analysis to calculate risk of multimorbidity and risk of mortality in people with multimorbidity. Results: Overall refugees had higher risk of multimorbidity compared to Danish-born, while family reunification immigrants had a lower risk. When adjusting for civil status and mean income, the risk was lower for all migrant groups compared to Danish-born. Risk of mortality in people with multimorbidity, was lower for all migrant groups, compared to Danish-born. Conclusion: Refugees are an at-risk group for multimorbidity, however, mortality among those with multimorbidity is lower in all migrant groups compared to Danish-born. © 2018 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Non-western migrants Multimorbidity Secondary health care

Index Keywords

refugee Registries register human epidemiology Refugees trends Cohort Studies Denmark statistics and numerical data multiple chronic conditions Multimorbidity family size Family Characteristics Humans migrant male Emigrants and Immigrants female adult cohort analysis mortality
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85049688617&doi=10.1186%2fs12889-018-5785-y&partnerID=40&md5=a6dec734523535084e7a8aac0e5ceb5d
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5785-y
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English