Multimorbidity in adult asylum seekers: a first overview

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Public health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Rising asylum applications in the EU necessitate understanding the health of this population.
• Multimorbidity is a growing concern among vulnerable groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an initial overview of multimorbidity in adult asylum seekers.
• To identify prevalent health conditions and demographic patterns.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of adult asylum seekers admitted to a Swiss emergency department (ED).
• Data collected between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2012.
• Examination of patient demographics, region of origin, and diagnosed conditions.

Main Results:

• 3170 patients were analyzed; predominantly male (75.5%) with a median age of 28.
• 48.7% originated from Africa, 23.6% from the Middle East.
• 37.7% of patients were multimorbid, with psychiatric diseases (20%), chronic medical conditions (12.6%), and infectious diseases (4.7%) being most common.

Conclusions:

• Asylum seekers present with diverse health issues, including significant multimorbidity.
• Psychiatric, infectious, and chronic medical conditions are prevalent, even in younger asylum seekers.
• Healthcare strategies should address the complex health needs of this population.