title: Type 2 diabetes prevalence varies by socio-economic status within and between migrant groups: analysis and implications for Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ethnic diversity is increasing through migration in many developed countries. Evidence indicates that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevalence varies by ethnicity and socio-economic status (SES), and that in many settings, migrants experience a disproportionate burden of disease compared with locally-born groups. Given Australia's multicultural demography, we sought to identify groups at high risk of T2DM in Victoria, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using population data from the Australian National Census and diabetes data from the National Diabetes Services Scheme, prevalence of T2DM among immigrant groups in Victoria in January 2010 was investigated, and prevalence odds versus Australian-born residents estimated. Distribution of T2DM by SES was also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of diagnosed T2DM in Victoria was 4.1% (n = 98671) in men and 3.5% (n = 87608) in women. Of those with T2DM, over 1 in 5 born in Oceania and in Southern and Central Asia were aged under 50 years. For both men and women, odds of T2DM were higher for all migrant groups than the Australian-born reference population, including, after adjusting for age and SES, 6.3 and 7.2 times higher for men and women born in the Pacific Islands, respectively, and 5.2 and 5.0 times higher for men and women born in Southern and Central Asia, respectively. Effects of SES varied by region of birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Large socio-cultural differences exist in the distribution of T2DM. Across all socio-economic strata, all migrant groups have higher prevalence of T2DM than the Australian-born population. With increasing migration, this health gap potentially has implications for health service planning and delivery, policy and preventive efforts in Australia.
authors.affiliation: Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders University and Deakin University, P.O. Box 423, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abouzeid
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Philpot
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Janus
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dunbar
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044349:Oceania / Q000208:ethnology; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology