BACKGROUND: Our study aimed at describing the health profiles, life styles and use of health resources by the immigrant population resident in Spain. METHODS: Cross-sectional, epidemiological study from the Spanish National Health Survey (NHS) in 2003. We analysed 1506 subjects of both sexes, aged > or =16 years, resident in Spain. RESULTS: The immigrant population present diseases that are similar to those of the autochthonous population. The autochthonous population had significantly higher values for alcohol consumption and smoking (60.8 and 39.6%) than immigrants (39.6 and 27.5%). The percentage of immigrants hospitalized in the preceding 12 months was observed to be higher than that of the Spanish population (11.4 vs. 8.2%, P < 0.05). The immigrant population consumed fewer medical drugs than the Spanish population (42.6 and 49.9%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Immigrants in Spain display better lifestyle-related parameters, in that they consume less alcohol and smoke less than the autochthonous population. As for the use of health-care resources, while immigrants register higher percentages of hospitalization compared with the Spanish population, there is no evidence of excessive and inappropriate use of other health-care resources.
BACKGROUND: Our study aimed at describing the health profiles, life styles and use of health resources by the immigrant population resident in Spain. METHODS: Cross-sectional, epidemiological study from the Spanish National Health Survey (NHS) in 2003. We analysed 1506 subjects of both sexes, aged > or =16 years, resident in Spain. RESULTS: The immigrant population present diseases that are similar to those of the autochthonous population. The autochthonous population had significantly higher values for alcohol consumption and smoking (60.8 and 39.6%) than immigrants (39.6 and 27.5%). The percentage of immigrants hospitalized in the preceding 12 months was observed to be higher than that of the Spanish population (11.4 vs. 8.2%, P < 0.05). The immigrant population consumed fewer medical drugs than the Spanish population (42.6 and 49.9%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Immigrants in Spain display better lifestyle-related parameters, in that they consume less alcohol and smoke less than the autochthonous population. As for the use of health-care resources, while immigrants register higher percentages of hospitalization compared with the Spanish population, there is no evidence of excessive and inappropriate use of other health-care resources.
Authors: Heide Glaesmer; Ulla Wittig; Elmar Braehler; Alexandra Martin; Ricarda Mewes; Winfried Rief Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2010-11-01 Impact factor: 3.380
Authors: Rosa Maria Macipe-Costa; Nuria García-Sanchez; Luis Andrés Gimeno-Feliu; Beatriz Navarra-Vicente; Juan Manuel Jiménez-Hereza; Isabel Moneo-Hernández; Jose Antonio Castillo-Laita; Pilar Lobera-Navaz Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2013-11-09 Impact factor: 3.380
Authors: Luís A Gimeno-Feliu; Javier Armesto-Gómez; Rosa Macipe-Costa; Rosa Magallón-Botaya Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2009-12-08 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Pilar Carrasco-Garrido; Rodrigo Jiménez-García; Valentin Hernández Barrera; Ana López de Andrés; Angel Gil de Miguel Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2009-06-25 Impact factor: 3.295