High prevalence of diabetes among immigrants from non-European countries in Sweden

Patients with diabetes aged 35–64 years from four primary health care centres in Stockholm County were identified from electronic patient records (EPRs): diabetes prevalence occurred 414 of 15,317 men, and 250 of 15,388 women. The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of diabetes was as follows: Non-European immigrants, 5.82% (95% CI 5.06–6.58), European immigrants 1.96% (95% CI 1.53–2.39), and Swedish-born subjects 1.80% (95% CI 1.63–1.97). In conclusion, non-European immigrants showed a three-fold higher prevalence of diabetes compared to Swedish-born subjects.