Ann Glob Health. 2026 Oct 15;92(1):101. doi: 10.5334/aogh.5247. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
Background: Refugees resettling in the United States often come from regions with limited healthcare infrastructure. While communicable diseases are routinely screened for, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension and diabetes mellitus, remain underrecognized. Lifetime adverse events contributing to chronic stress further increase cardiovascular disease risk in refugees. Objective: To evaluate the chronic disease burden of blood pressure measurements in the hypertensive range and point-of-care capillary glucose values in the prediabetic and diabetic ranges among refugees arriving in Syracuse, New York and to examine how a community-based health screening program informs current U.S. refugee screening practices. Associations between elevated cardiometabolic measures (blood glucose, blood pressure, and heart rate) and demographic and clinical characteristics are explored. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of health screening data collected from recently arrived adult refugees in Syracuse, New York, between May 2023 and March 2025. Health screenings were conducted within the first few months of arrival and were offered to refugees aged 18 and older, with 529 total participants. Findings: Participants were 55.8% female, with 69.8% of participants between 18 and 44 years old. Predominant regions of origin included the Eastern Mediterranean region (39.3%, including Somalia 14.2%, Syria 13.2%), the African region (36.1%, including Democratic Republic of Congo 17.8%), and region of the Americas (12.5%, including Venezuela 7.0%). Elevated heart rate was associated with glucose values in the diabetic range and gender. Glucose values in diabetic range were associated with blood pressure and age. Blood pressure was associated with age, gender, and BMI. Conclusions: Our refugee cohort showed a notable burden of undiagnosed NCDs, including hypertension and hyperglycemia in the prediabetic/diabetic ranges. Statistically significant associations between cardiometabolic risk factors, including increased BMI, age, and gender, with chronic diseases underscore the need for continued interventions to improve access and uptake of preventive health services for refugees.
PMID:42909260 | PMC:PMC13683940 | DOI:10.5334/aogh.5247