Country of birth-specific and gender differences in prevalence of diabetes in Sweden

ObjectiveThe aim was to investigate country or region of birth-specific prevalence and gender differences of diabetes in residents in Sweden, using Swedish-born men and women as referent.MethodsThe Apolipoprotein MOrtality RISk (AMORIS) cohort was used (184,000 men and 151,453 women) aged between 20 and 80 years, with data from the CALAB laboratory, Stockholm, 1985–1996. Diabetes was defined as fasting glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L or a hospital diagnosis of diabetes. Country of birth was obtained by linkage to Swedish Censuses 1970–1990. Standardized prevalence rate ratios (SPRR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated.ResultsFive groups of women and one group of men had a significantly higher prevalence than Swedish-born (based on SPRR): women born in Iraq (6.0 (95% CI 1.3–28.9)), North Africa (6.9 (95% CI 3.1–15.3)), South Asia (3.1 (95% CI 1.0–10.0)), Syria (5.3 (95% CI 1.8–16.0)), Turkey (3.7 (95% CI 1.2–10.9)) and men born in other Middle Eastern countries (2.3 (95% CI 1.0–5.5)).Swedish-born men had a higher age-standardized prevalence of diabetes (3.9%) than Swedish born women (2.5%). A higher prevalence among men was also seen in other Western countries. In contrast, a higher age-standardized prevalence among women was observed in immigrants from Turkey (8.9% vs. 3.1%, p < 0.001), Syria (13.1% vs. 4.0%, p = 0.002), and North Africa (16.8% vs. 6.6%, p < 0.001).ConclusionFemale immigrants to Sweden from Iraq, North Africa, South Asia, Syria, and Turkey have an increased prevalence of diabetes of substantial public health concern.