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Journal of Preventive Medicine
ISSN: 2572-5483
July 16-17, 2018
London, UK
Preventive Medicine 2018
Page 16
9th Edition of International Conference on
Preventive Medicine
& Public Health
Background: Little is known about the prevalence and trajectory
of chronic diseases (CD), among recent immigrants and refugees
to the United States (US). To inform CD prevention efforts, we
examined baseline prevalence of CD and its trajectory over the
first two years in the US among refugees and immigrants from
the Middle East.
Methods: A sample of 314 recent Middle East immigrants and
298 newly arrived Iraqi refugees was recruited in southeast
Michigan; most (254 immigrants and 283 refugees), were
reassessed two years later. Participants responded to an
interview in Arabic using a validated structured survey which
asked about socioeconomics and the presence of 11 physician-
diagnosed CD (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, asthma,
obesity, cancer), and self-rated health (SRH). Analyses compared
immigrants and refugees over time. The Wayne State University
Institutional Review Board approved the study.
Results: The two groups differed on most variables studied.
Refugees had lower rate of employment, education, alcohol use,
and being single. Refugees had higher rates of most CD than
immigrants at both time points, and most CD increased over
2 years in both sample (except for (skin/asthma/depression).
Immigrants increased from 0.52 (SD=1.0) to 0.92 (SD=1.66)
CD, whereas refugees increased from 1.03 (SD=1.41) to 1.60
(SD=1.97). Regression analyses indicated that the increase in
CD over time was, predicted by baseline CD as well as old age,
unemployment, poor self-rated health and poor self-ratedmental
health.
Conclusion: Both refugees and immigrants increased in CD two
years after arrival. Prevention efforts should target risk factors to
prevent the rise in CD in these populations.
Biography
Hikmet J Jamil joined Baghdad University in 1979 and in 1997 emigrated to
USA. In 1998 he joinedWayne State University and in 2015 joinedMichigan
State University. He is author of 20 books. In 2013, he wrote chapter in a
Book title “Biopsychosocial Perspective on Arab American: Cultural Devel-
opment and Health”. He has 194 publications and has given 1190 presen-
tations at scientific meetings. He participates in research funded by e.g.,
NIMH, CURES, Pfizer. He is one of the founders of AlNahrain International
Society of Iraqi Scientists in 2017. In 2003 his biography was listed in the
25th & 26th Dictionary of International Biography, Cambridge, as well as in
the American Biographical Institute, USA. In 2012, the Iraqi Society of Occu-
pational Health and Safety named the conference Room of the Society by
him. He had received several Awards from different academic institutions,
non-profit organizations, WHO and Governmental agents.
A three-year follow-up on chronic disease,
and the road to prevention: Refugees and
immigrants to the United States
Hikmet J. Jamil
Michigan State University, USA
Hikmet J. Jamil, J Prev Med 2018, Volume 3
DOI: 10.21767/2572-5483-C1-001