The Prevalence of Multimorbidity among Foreign-born Adults in the United States

We examined multimorbidity among foreign-born adults in the United States. This population may be particularly affected by chronic conditions and limited health care access.

Longitudinal cohort.

United States.

Foreign-born adults at the point of legal permanent residency.

Multimorbidity defined as two or more of eight chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, stroke, cancer, chronic lung disease, and heart problems).

We estimated the prevalence of multimorbidity and patterns over time. Data are from the New Immigrant Survey (NIS), a nationally representative study of adult immigrants at green card status in 2003 (N=8,174) and reinterview in 2008.

The prevalence of multimorbidity was 6% in 2003, and 12% in 2008. The most common condition dyad at both time points was hypertension-obesity; the largest increase over time was in combinations that included hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. The odds of having multimorbidity compared to no chronic conditions were higher among older immigrants and those who had seen a doctor in the past year. The odds of gaining one chronic condition over a 5-year period increased with age; 45-65 years: OR 2.8[CI 2.3,3.5]; aged ≥65 years: OR 3.2 CI[2.2,4.7].

The prevalence of multimorbidity among immigrants was lower than the prevalence in the overall US population of the same age, consistent with studies showing an immigrant health advantage.