Comparison of Emergency Department Processes and Intensive Care Unit Admissions Between the Local Population and...

Background: This study aimed to compare the emergency department (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission processes of the local population and individuals with migrant, refugee, or asylum status as well as to evaluate differences between the groups. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted by analyzing the data of 10,163 patients who presented to the Emergency Medicine Clinic of Sakarya Training and Research Hospital between 1 January 2022 and 1 January 2024, and were determined to require ICU care. Among these, 10,060 were from the local population and 103 were refugees. Key variables, such as patients' demographic characteristics, comorbidities, ED processes, hospital admission, and referral statuses, were collected and analyzed. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Results: The mean age of refugee patients was 39.1 ± 26.5 years, and they were younger than the local population. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of examination waiting times and time to the first consultation (p = 0.721 and p = 0.060, respectively). Refugees were more frequently admitted to the ICU at the study hospital than the local population (85.4% vs. 61.0%, p < 0.001). Refugee status remained independently associated with ICU admission at the study hospital after adjustment for age, sex, and major comorbidities (adjusted OR: 2.57, 95% CI: 1.47-4.50; p = 0.001). Conclusions: In this study, no significant differences were observed between refugees and the local population in examination waiting time, time to first consultation, or ED length of stay. Refugees were younger and had a higher rate of ICU admission at the study hospital. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of healthcare utilization patterns among refugees requiring intensive care in Türkiye.