Annals of global health
Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Burden among Recently Arrived Refugees in Syracuse, New York
By Wu E, Searles M, Taiwo I and 3 others.
Abstract
Background
Refugees resettling in the United States often come from regions with limited healthcare infrastructure. While communicable diseases are routinely screened for, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension and diabetes mellitus, remain underrecognized. Lifetime adverse events contributing to chronic stress further increase cardiovascular disease risk in refugees.
Objective
To evaluate the chronic disease burden of blood pressure measurements in the hypertensive range and point-of-care capillary glucose values in the prediabetic and diabetic ranges among refugees arriving in Syracuse, New York and to examine how a community-based health screening program informs current U.S. refugee screening practices. Associations between elevated cardiometabolic measures (blood glucose, blood pressure, and heart rate) and demographic and clinical characteristics are explored.