2996-LB: Disparities in Diabetes among Immigrants in North America: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction and Objective: Racial and ethnic minority groups in North America experience a disproportionate burden of diabetes. Immigrants represent a distinct subgroup, characterized by migration-related lifestyle and environmental changes that may influence diabetes risk. However, the magnitude of diabetes risk among immigrant populations has not been systematically synthesized. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the relative risk of diabetes among immigrant populations in the US and Canada compared with host populations. Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase (via Ovid), and Scopus in October 2025 for studies reporting diabetes prevalence and/or effect estimates (odds ratios [ORs] or relative risks [RRs]) among immigrant groups compared with host populations. ORs were converted to RRs using host population baseline risks to allow for pooling across studies. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to estimate pooled RRs. Results: Preliminary analyses include 64 of 81 eligible studies (data extraction is ongoing) of which 27 unique studies reported overall sample comparisons. The prevalence of diabetes among immigrants ranged from 2.1% to 44.5% (n=25 studies). Compared with host populations, the pooled RR for overall diabetes was 1.31 (95% CI: 1.10-1.57) (n=15 studies). In subgroup analyses, the pooled RR for type 2 diabetes (n=9 studies) was 1.32 (1.02-1.71), while the RR for gestational diabetes (n=6 studies) was 1.31 (1.02-1.69). Significant heterogeneity was observed across all analyses (I²=87-96%), reflecting diversity in immigrant origins, host comparison groups, and study methodologies. Conclusion: Immigrant populations in North America experience a disproportionate burden of diabetes, with an approximately 30% higher risk compared with host populations. These findings highlight the need for improved surveillance of migrant health to inform diabetes prevention, policy, and care. Disclosure N.A. Kassaw: None. A. Shrestha: None. I.L. Veloso: None. K. Meeks: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (DK131018)