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Prevalence and management of diabetes in immigrants resident in the Lombardy Region: the importance of ethnicity and duration of stay

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Abstract

Aims

To describe the prevalence and management of diabetes among immigrants according to ethnic group and duration of stay, compared to Italian citizens.

Methods

Diabetic immigrant and Italian residents aged 20–69 years in the administrative database of the Lombardy Region. Immigrants were classified by region of origin and as long-term residents (LTR) and short-term residents (STR). Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence and indicators of diabetes management were calculated for immigrants by region of origin and by length of stay using Cox proportional models.

Results

In 2010 19,992 immigrants (mean age 49.1 ± 10.8, 53.7% males) and 195,049 Italians (mean age 58.7 ± 9.3, 61.1 males) with diabetes were identified. Immigrants had a higher adjusted diabetes prevalence than Italians (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.45–1.50). STR received significantly fewer recommended cardiovascular drugs (antiplatelets, statins and ACE-inhibitors/ARBs) than Italians, although prescription was higher among LTR from some ethnic groups. Immigrants were less likely to be seen by a diabetologist and to do at least one HbA1c test per year. Although the recommended tests/visits were more often done for the LTR than the STR, in the majority of ethnic groups these indicators were still far from optimal.

Conclusion

The prevalence and management of diabetes differ between immigrants and Italians, although some improvement can be seen among LTR.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Igor Monti from IRCCS—Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Simone Schiatti and Giovanna Rigotti from Lombardia Informatica S.p.A, Alfredo Bevilacqua from SANTER Reply S.p.A. We are grateful to J.D. Baggott for language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Cardiovascular Prevention, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, Via Giuseppe La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy

    Irene Marzona, Fausto Avanzini, Tommaso Vannini & Maria Carla Roncaglioni

  2. Laboratory of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, Milan, Italy

    Mauro Tettamanti

  3. Regional Health Ministry, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy

    Ida Fortino, Angela Bortolotti & Luca Merlino

  4. Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Unit, IRCCS Centro Cardiologico Monzino, Milan, Italy

    Stefano Genovese

Authors
  1. Irene Marzona
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  2. Fausto Avanzini
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  3. Mauro Tettamanti
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  4. Tommaso Vannini
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  5. Ida Fortino
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  6. Angela Bortolotti
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  7. Luca Merlino
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  8. Stefano Genovese
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  9. Maria Carla Roncaglioni
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Contributions

All authors take responsibility for the contents of the article. IM, FA and MCR participated in the conception and design of the study and data interpretation. IF, AB and LM performed acquisition of data. MT and TV did the statistical analyses. FA, MCR and IM drafted the report. SG participated in the interpretation of the results and critically revised the manuscript. All authors contributed to writing and have seen and approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irene Marzona.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights

In Italy, approval from an Ethics Committee is not required to analyze encrypted administrative data according to the National law.

Informed consent

In Italy informed consent is not required to analyze encrypted administrative data according to the National law.

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Managed by Antonio Secchi.

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Marzona, I., Avanzini, F., Tettamanti, M. et al. Prevalence and management of diabetes in immigrants resident in the Lombardy Region: the importance of ethnicity and duration of stay. Acta Diabetol 55, 355–362 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-018-1102-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-018-1102-6

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