Europe lacks comparable data on cardiovascular disease and diabetes risks among migrant and minority populations

A new scoping review conducted within JACARDI reveals major gaps in the monitoring of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk factors among people with a migrant background, ethnic minority groups and Indigenous people across Europe. The study found that most European countries lack health examination survey data for these populations, making it more difficult for policymakers to identify health inequalities and design effective prevention measures.

The research identified substantial differences in how migrant and minority populations are defined and how key risk factors are measured, limiting opportunities for data harmonisation and cross-country comparisons. 

According to the authors, better and more consistent data are urgently needed to support equitable health policies and improve prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes across increasingly diverse populations.

“If we do not know how the risks of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes are distributed across different population groups, we cannot target prevention efforts effectively or equitably. At present, there is still insufficient comparable data on many migrant-origin and ethnic minority populations across Europe,” says Sinna Lehtola, the study’s corresponding author.

Data gaps hinder effective prevention policies

The review found that 69% of EU Member States and associated countries had no eligible published studies on the selected risk factors among migrant-origin or ethnic minority groups. Moreover, none of the identified health examination surveys used nationally representative samples; all were conducted regionally.

For policymakers, the findings underline the need for coordinated European action. The authors recommend developing common guidance on how migrant-origin and ethnic minority populations should be included in health monitoring systems and population-based screening programmes. Standardised definitions and measurement methods would strengthen evidence-based policymaking, support fair allocation of resources and enable more reliable monitoring of health inequalities across countries.

“Health inequalities cannot be reduced unless they are first measured reliably. Ensuring the inclusion of migrant-origin populations, ethnic minorities and Indigenous people in national health examination surveys is therefore an important prerequisite for evidence-informed policymaking,” Lehtola says.

The authors also highlight that future national health examination surveys should include sufficiently large supplementary samples of migrant-origin, ethnic minority and Indigenous people. This would improve the quality of evidence available for public health planning and help ensure that prevention policies reflect the diversity of Europe’s population.

The review analysed 57 scientific publications and identified 24 health examination surveys conducted in only ten European countries.

Publication: Population-based screening for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes risk among migrant origin and ethnic minority groups in Europe: a scoping review
Authors: Sinna M. H. Lehtola, Fanny Monnet, Hanna Tolonen, Hanna M. Elonheimo, Jelka Zaletel, Josefien van Olmen, Petra Šter, Jerneja Farkas, Natalia Skogberg
Journal: BMC Public Health
Publication date: 1 May 2026
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-026-27380-7