Fact 7: Noncommunicable diseases
Limited access to health care, interrupted health services during the migratory process and delayed diagnoses all present significant risks to refugees and migrants.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke and cancer, pose increasing health risks to refugees and migrants. Research indicates a correlation between the duration of stay in the host country and an increase in risk for NCDs.
Cardiovascular diseases: While generally there is a higher risk of ischaemic heart disease and stroke among the refugee and migrant population, there is no clear pattern for cardiovascular diseases. Prevalence may be linked as much to socioeconomic factors as to migration-specific factors.
Neoplasms: Refugees and migrants have a lower risk for all neoplasms except cervical cancer, for which they are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage in their disease than host populations in the Region.
Diabetes: In general, refugees and migrants in the Region have a higher incidence, prevalence and mortality rate for diabetes than host populations, with higher rates seen in women than men depending on the country of origin.
These 10 facts summarize key issues on refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region.
