Online Program

291672
An immigrant diabetes disadvantage in New York ethnic enclaves?


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Ashley Fox, PhD, MA, Department of Health Evidence and Policy, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Carol R. Horowitz, MD, MPH, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Michelle Ramos, MPH, Department of Health Evidence and Policy, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Simona Kwon, DrPH, MPH, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Carlos Devia, MA, Bronx Health REACH- NY CEED, Institute for Family Health, New York, NY
Charmaine Ruddock, MS, Bronx Health REACH, New York, NY
Nadia Islam, PhD, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Laura Wyatt, MPH, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPH, Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Institute of Community Health and Research, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Background/Significance: For a variety of health conditions, immigrants to the US have better health than their U.S.-born counterparts. One potential exception is diabetes, which is high among both U.S. born and foreign born Latinos. Some of the highest rates of diabetes in the country have been detected in ethnic enclaves in New York City, but it is not clear whether these high rates are driven more by U.S. born or foreign born residents, or if rates are equal. Sample sizes of foreign-born individuals for groups other than Hispanics are frequently too small to draw inferences. Methods: This study draws on the REACH U.S. Risk Factor Survey- a survey that over-sampled Hispanic, Asian and black minority enclaves in New York over 3 years (2009-2011). Bivariate and multivariate analyses compared rates of self-reported diabetes between foreign-born Hispanic, Asian and black communities and their U.S.-born counterparts. Results: Results show that the odds of being diagnosed with diabetes is significantly higher for foreign-born Hispanics and Asians, but lower for foreign-born blacks. Adjusting for age, socio-economic status, gender and insurance, these significant differences disappear. Further analysis will explore behavioral differences and diabetes care between US and foreign-born as well as differences within ethnic subgroups (e.g., foreign-born vs US-born South Asians and East Asians; Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and Mexicans), and the impact of acculturation. Conclusions: In contrast with other health risks, self-reported diabetes rates among foreign-born Hispanics and Asians are significantly higher than their US counterparts, but these differences appear to be explained by demographic characteristics.-2013-->

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Compare rates of diabetes between US born and foreign born ethnic and racial minorities in New York City. Evaluate the factors that contribute to different rates of diabetes among immigrant and US born groups. Develop interventions to target risk factors in high risk communities.

Keyword(s): Diabetes, Immigrants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am Director of Evaluation for the CDC REACH site at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and conducted the analyses.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.