Comorbidity and health-related quality of life in Somali women living in Sweden

Scand J Prim Health Care. 2019 Jun;37(2):174-181. doi: 10.1080/02813432.2019.1608043. Epub 2019 May 6.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between low serum vitamin D levels and comorbidity in Somali women, immigrants to Sweden. Design and setting: Cohort study in a Primary Health Care Center and a University Hospital. Subjects: Somali women skin type V, n = 114, aged 18-56 years, from latitude 0-10○ N, living in Sweden, latitude 57○ N > 2 years were compared with women from a population sample, skin type II-III, n = 69, aged 38-56 years, the WHO MONICA study, Gothenburg, Sweden. Main outcome measures: Serum (S)-25(OH)D, S-parathyroid hormone (PTH), comorbidity and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and part of the EQ-5D questionnaires. All calculations were corrected for age. Results: Vitamin D deficiency (S-25(OH)D < 25 nmol/l) was found in 73% of the Somali women and in 1% of the controls (p < .0001). S-PTH was elevated (>6.9 pmol/l) in 26% and 9%, respectively (p < .004). Somali women used less medication, 16% vs. 55%, p < .0001) but more allergy medication, 11% vs. 7% (p = .006), had fewer fractures, 2% vs. 28% (p < .0001) and lower HRQoL in 7 out of 9 scales (p < .05-.001), than native controls. There were no differences in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies, vitamin B12 deficiency, celiac disease or hypertension. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was common in Somali women living in Sweden, 73%, but comorbidity was low. Both mental, and especially physical HRQoL scores were lower in the Somali women. The effects of long-lasting deficiency are unknown. Key points The aim was to explore the relationship between vitamin D deficiency (S-25(OH)D < 25 nmol/l) and comorbidity in immigrants. Vitamin D deficiency was common in Somali women living in Sweden, 73%, but comorbidity of hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, fractures and use of medications was low. Both mental, and especially physical, Health-Related Quality of Life were lower in the Somali women than in native Swedish women. The effects of long-lasting deficiency are unknown.

Keywords: Health-Related Quality of Life; Immigrants; comorbidity; vitamin D deficiency; women.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Emigrants and Immigrants*
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Parathyroid Hormone / blood
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Prevalence
  • Quality of Life*
  • Skin
  • Somalia / ethnology
  • Sunlight
  • Sweden / epidemiology
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / complications
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / ethnology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Grants and funding

The study was financed by grants from the Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the county councils, the ALF-agreement [ALFGBG-718611] and the Gothenburg Medical Association [GLS-170961].