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Type 2 diabetes burden among migrants in Europe : unravelling the causal pathways

Agyemang, Charles ; van der Linden, Eva L. and Bennet, Louise LU orcid (2021) In Diabetologia 64. p.2665-2675
Abstract

European populations are ethnically and culturally diverse due to international migration. Evidence indicates large ethnic inequalities in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. This review discusses the burden of type 2 diabetes and its related complications, and the potential explanatory mechanisms among migrants in Europe. The current available data suggest that the rate of type 2 diabetes is higher in all migrant groups and that they develop this disease at an earlier age than the host European populations. The level of diabetes awareness among migrant populations is high, but glycaemic control remains suboptimal compared with Europeans. The culturally adapted lifestyle modification intervention trials to prevent type 2 diabetes mainly... (More)

European populations are ethnically and culturally diverse due to international migration. Evidence indicates large ethnic inequalities in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. This review discusses the burden of type 2 diabetes and its related complications, and the potential explanatory mechanisms among migrants in Europe. The current available data suggest that the rate of type 2 diabetes is higher in all migrant groups and that they develop this disease at an earlier age than the host European populations. The level of diabetes awareness among migrant populations is high, but glycaemic control remains suboptimal compared with Europeans. The culturally adapted lifestyle modification intervention trials to prevent type 2 diabetes mainly focus on South Asian adults in Europe. Diabetes-related microvascular and macrovascular complications remain a major burden among migrant populations in Europe. Earlier studies found higher mortality rates among migrants, but recent studies seem to suggest a shifting trend in favour of first-generation migrants. However, the extent of the burden of type 2 diabetes varies across migrant groups and European countries. Despite the higher burden of type 2 diabetes among migrants, the key underlying factors are not well understood mainly due to limited investment in basic science research and development of prospective cohort studies. We hypothesise that the underlying risk factors for the high burden of type 2 diabetes and its related complications in migrants are multifaceted and include pre-migration factors, post-migration factors and genetic predispositions. Given the multi-ethnic nature of the current European population, there is a clear need for investment in research among migrant populations to gain insight into factors driving the high burden of type 2 diabetes and related complications to facilitate prevention and treatment efforts in Europe. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Ethnic minority groups, Europe, Migrants, Review, Type 2 diabetes
in
Diabetologia
volume
64
pages
2665 - 2675
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85117079425
ISSN
0012-186X
DOI
10.1007/s00125-021-05586-1
project
The MEDIM project
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).
id
5f9addcc-d61f-458e-8486-9568919b7404
date added to LUP
2021-11-02 17:28:22
date last changed
2022-04-27 05:21:43
@article{5f9addcc-d61f-458e-8486-9568919b7404,
  abstract     = {{<p>European populations are ethnically and culturally diverse due to international migration. Evidence indicates large ethnic inequalities in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. This review discusses the burden of type 2 diabetes and its related complications, and the potential explanatory mechanisms among migrants in Europe. The current available data suggest that the rate of type 2 diabetes is higher in all migrant groups and that they develop this disease at an earlier age than the host European populations. The level of diabetes awareness among migrant populations is high, but glycaemic control remains suboptimal compared with Europeans. The culturally adapted lifestyle modification intervention trials to prevent type 2 diabetes mainly focus on South Asian adults in Europe. Diabetes-related microvascular and macrovascular complications remain a major burden among migrant populations in Europe. Earlier studies found higher mortality rates among migrants, but recent studies seem to suggest a shifting trend in favour of first-generation migrants. However, the extent of the burden of type 2 diabetes varies across migrant groups and European countries. Despite the higher burden of type 2 diabetes among migrants, the key underlying factors are not well understood mainly due to limited investment in basic science research and development of prospective cohort studies. We hypothesise that the underlying risk factors for the high burden of type 2 diabetes and its related complications in migrants are multifaceted and include pre-migration factors, post-migration factors and genetic predispositions. Given the multi-ethnic nature of the current European population, there is a clear need for investment in research among migrant populations to gain insight into factors driving the high burden of type 2 diabetes and related complications to facilitate prevention and treatment efforts in Europe. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]</p>}},
  author       = {{Agyemang, Charles and van der Linden, Eva L. and Bennet, Louise}},
  issn         = {{0012-186X}},
  keywords     = {{Ethnic minority groups; Europe; Migrants; Review; Type 2 diabetes}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{2665--2675}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Diabetologia}},
  title        = {{Type 2 diabetes burden among migrants in Europe : unravelling the causal pathways}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00125-021-05586-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00125-021-05586-1}},
  volume       = {{64}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}