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Abstract
Background: In a cohort of migrants in
Denmark, we compared somatic disease incidence among migrants diagnosed
with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression with migrants
without a diagnosed psychiatric disorder.
Methods: The study builds on a unique cohort of migrants who obtained residence permit in Denmark from 1993 to 2010 (N = 92,104).
The association with somatic disease was explored via register linkage.
We used Poisson regression to model incidence rate ratios (IRR)
adjusted for age, sex, income and region of origin. The Danish Data
Protection Agency granted authorisation for the implementation of the
project (No 2012-41-0065).
Results: Our results showed that
migrants diagnosed with PTSD and depression had significantly higher
rates of somatic diseases compared with migrants without diagnosed
psychiatric disorders – especially, infectious disease (IRR, 1.89; 95%
CI, 1.45–2.48; p < 0.01), neurological disease (IRR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.91–2.91; p < 0.01) and pulmonary disease (IRR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.37–2.00; p < 0.01). We further saw differences in the IRRs according to region of origin.
Conclusion: Migrants with PTSD and
depression had a significantly higher rates of somatic comorbidity
compared with migrants without a diagnosed psychiatric disorder. The
rates were especially high for infectious, neurological and pulmonary
diseases. Our results further suggest difference in the rates of somatic
comorbidity according to region of. Preventive and treatment services
should pay special attention to improve the overall health of migrants
with PTSD and depression.
Keywords: Post-traumatic stress disorder
Depression
Comorbidity
Refugee
Migrant
Publishing date: 12/29/2016 12:14 PM