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Abstract: This paper
aims to explore the burgeoning burden of cardiovascular and metabolic disease
(CMD) risk factors among South Asian labor migrants to the Middle East. We
conducted a qualitative synthesis of literature using PubMed/Medline and grey
literature searches, supplemented by a policy review of policies from the South
Asian countries. We found a high burden of cardio-metabolic risk ... read morefactors among the
migrants as well as among the populations in the home and the host countries. For
example, two studies reported the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) ranging
between 9 and 17% among South Asian migrants. Overweight and obesity were highly
prevalent amongst South Asian male migrants; prevalence ranged from 30 to 66%
(overweight) and 17-80% (obesity) respectively. The home country population had a
significant CMD risk factor burden. Nearly 14 to 40% have three or more risk
factors: such as hypertension (17 to 37%), diabetes (3 to 7%), overweight (18 to
41%), and obesity (2 to 15%). The host country also exhibited similar burden of
risk factors: hypertension (13 to 38%), diabetes (8 to 17%), overweight (33 to
77%) and obesity (35 to 41%). Only Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have some
provisions related to screening of CMDs before labor migration. Further, analysis
of policy papers showed that none of the reviewed documents had requirements for
screening of any specific CMDs, but chronic diseases were used generically,
failing to specify specific screening target. Given the high burden of risk
factors, migrants' health should become an urgent priority. The lack of specific
focus on screening during different stages of labor migration should receive
attention. The International Labour Organization and the International Office for
Migration, through their country coordination teams should engage local
stakeholders to create policies and plans to address this concern. Similarly,
there is a need for the host country to become an equal partner in these efforts,
as migrant's better cardiometabolic health is in the benefit of both host and home
countries.
Keywords: Non-communicable diseases, Diabetes, Cardiovascular
diseases, Migrants, Labour, Migration, South Asia.
Springer Open.read less
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