Foreign- and Swedish-born diabetic patients--medical situation and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To study the medical situation and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in foreign- and Swedish-born diabetic patients.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, questionnaire survey of diabetic patients registered with primary health services, compared with the general Swedish population.


METHODS
Three community health centres in Stockholm County.


METHODS
62 foreign- and 351 Swedish-born subjects, aged 18-84 years. Age- and sex-matched controls from a standard population sample of 2500 individuals.


METHODS
Medical data extracted from the medical records. HRQOL assessed by the Swedish Health-Related Quality of Life Survey.


RESULTS
Differences were found for foreign- vs Swedish-bor patients regarding diabetes duration, 7.9 vs 10.9 years, p < 0.01; BMI, 31.9 vs 28.8, p < 0.05; tablet treatment, 64.5% vs 46.4%, p < 0.01; and diabetic complications, 37.5% vs 54.9%, p < 0.05. HRQOL was decreased on nine of the 13 scales in foreign-born patients, and eight in Swedish-born. Foreign-born patients were also at larger risk to be among the third with worst health at seven of the scales.


CONCLUSIONS
Foreign-born diabetic patients are at higher risk of experiencing bad health.
Wändell
P E
PE
Family Medicine Stockholm, Huddinge, Sweden.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014171:Transients and Migrants