Background: Israel is a country with high immigration rates. In previous studies, immigrants were found to have a relatively higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, higher rates of hypertension, as well as overall mortality rates. In this study we examined whether patient characteristics in the diabetic population of selected clinics in Beer Sheba differed between the years 1988 and 1997, and if immigration could explain these differences.
Methods: All known diabetic patients diagnosed at age 30 and older were enrolled in the study from 3 clinics in Beer Sheba in the years 1988-90 (Cohort 1), and from one of those clinics in 1996-97 (Cohort 2). Demographic, behavioral, clinical and biochemical characteristics of the two cohorts were compared, paying special attention to recent immigrants (< 10 years in Israel).
Results: About 17% of Cohort 1 and 47% of Cohort 2 were recent immigrants. Patients from Cohort 1 were significantly younger and had lower BMI compared to Cohort 2. They had higher systolic (148+/-22 vs. 141+/-21, p<0.001) and diastolic (83+/-12 vs. 80+/-10, p<0.001) blood pressure. More patients from Cohort 2 were on oral hypoglycemic medications (56% vs. 75%, p<0.001). Glucose control by HbAlc was better in patients from Cohort 2. The differences between cohorts were maintained after stratification by immigration status.
Conclusions: Diabetes-related characteristics of patients differed during the seven-year period and were not explained by immigration status. Improvement in care and more intensive management of patients with diabetes may explain, at least partially, the described differences.