Elderly immigrants--a disadvantaged group?

Asian, Caribbean and British born Nottingham hospital discharge rates of people of pensionable age for a variety of diagnoses and elective surgery were compared. No evidence of under-utilization of services by immigrants was found, but marked excess discharges were observed for tuberculosis, diabetes, asthma, gastrointestinal bleeding and cataract surgery. Increased hospital use for most diagnoses probably reflects true differences in disease risk between immigrants and the indigenous population.