Immigration Status and Chronic Disease Outcomes – a Scoping Review

Background Undocumented immigrants face significant barriers to accessing regular medical care in the U.S. This is a concern especially for individuals with chronic conditions. This scoping review provides an overview of the current knowledge on chronic health outcomes for undocumented immigrants compared to documented immigrants or US-born citizens. Methods The review process was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, and the selection of studies was based on pre-defined criteria. Results Nine articles were included. Key information such as population details, and study details, outcomes, and limitations are presented. There was conflicting evidence as to whether undocumented immigrants have poorer health outcomes, with undocumented immigrants faring better on nine (43%) measures, faring worse on nine (43%), and with no difference found on three (14%) measures when compared to documented immigrants or US-born citizens. Conclusion Undocumented individuals face significant barriers to accessing the same level of health care for their chronic conditions, but it is unclear if this translates to poorer health outcomes. Future, rigorous studies are recommended to address this gap and better understand the health of this vulnerable population.