Background: This study investigated the relationship between immigration status and quality of care for patients with diabetes.
Methods: We used the Medical Expenditure Panel (MEPS) dataset between 2002 and 2011 to examine the association between quality of care and immigration status. Quality of care was measured by report of dilated eye exam, foot exam, A1C test, an annual doctor's visit, and having blood pressure checked. Immigration status was defined as US born, non-US born but living in the USA for less than 15 years, and non-US born but living in the USA for more than 15 years. Bivariate analyses were used to compare receiving quality of care and immigration status. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association of immigration status with quality of care, adjusting for demographic and medical variables.
Results: Bivariate analyses showed significant differences for all quality of care measures compared to immigration status. However, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities, the only quality of care measures that were significantly associated with immigration status was having blood pressure checked (OR = 0.37 for < 15 years and 0.90 for > 15 years compared to US born, p < 0.001) and having dilated eye exam (OR = 0.77 for < 15 years and 0.89 for > 15 years compared to US born, p = 0.046).
Conclusions: After adjustment for socioeconomic and comorbidity factors, blood pressure testing and dilated eye exams were the only measures significantly associated with immigration status. The highest risk was in the first 15 years after entering the USA and should be a target for interventions.
Keywords: Blood pressure; Diabetes; Immigration; Quality of care.