Brinkmann, F.* ; Friedrichs, A.* ; Behrens, G.M.* ; Behrens, P.* ; Berner, R.* ; Caliebe, A.* ; Denkinger, C.M.* ; Giesbrecht, K.* ; Gussew, A.* ; Hoffmann, A.T.* ; Hojenski, L.* ; Hovardovska, O.* ; Dopfer-Jablonka, A.* ; Kaasch, A.J.* ; Kobbe, R.* ; Kraus, M. ; Lindner, A.* ; Maier, C.* ; Mitrov, L.* ; Nauck, M.* ; de Miranda, S.N.* ; Scherer, M.* ; Schmiedel, Y.* ; Stahl, D.* ; Timmesfeld, N.* ; Toepfner, N.* ; Vehreschild, J.* ; Wohlgemuth, W.A.* ; Petersmann, A.* ; Vehreschild, M.J.G.T.*
Prevalence of infectious diseases, immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases and chronic medical conditions among Ukrainian refugees in Germany - A cross sectional study from the German Network University Medicine (NUM).
J. Infect. Public Health 17, 642-649 (2024)
BACKGROUND: Vulnerability to infectious diseases in refugees is dependent on country of origin, flight routes, and conditions. Information on specific medical needs of different groups of refugees is lacking. We assessed the prevalence of infectious diseases, immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases, and chronic medical conditions in children, adolescents, and adult refugees from Ukraine who arrived in Germany in 2022. METHODS: Using different media, we recruited Ukrainian refugees at 13 sites between 9-12/2022. An antigen test for acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, serologies for a range of vaccine-preventable diseases, as well as interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) for tuberculosis (TB), and SARS-CoV-2 were performed. We assessed personal and family history of chronic medical conditions, infectious diseases, vaccination status, and conditions during migration. RESULTS: Overall, 1793 refugees (1401 adults and 392 children/adolescents) were included. Most participants were females (n = 1307; 72·3%) and from Eastern or Southern Ukraine. TB IGRA was positive in 13% (n = 184) of the adults and in 2% (n = 7) of the children. Serology-based immunological response was insufficient in approximately 21% (360/1793) of the participants for measles, 32% (572/1793) for diphtheria, and 74% (1289/1793) for hepatitis B. CONCLUSIONS: We show evidence of low serological response to vaccine-preventable infections and increased LTBI prevalence in Ukrainian refugees. These findings should be integrated into guidelines for screening and treatment of infectious diseases in migrants and refugees in Germany and Europe. Furthermore, low immunity for vaccine-preventable diseases in Ukrainians independent of their refugee status, calls for tailor-made communication efforts.
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Times Cited
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Publikationstyp
Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Typ der Hochschulschrift
Herausgeber
Schlagwörter
Infections ; Infectious Diseases ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 ; Ukraine ; Refugees
Keywords plus
Sprache
englisch
Veröffentlichungsjahr
2024
Prepublished im Jahr
0
HGF-Berichtsjahr
2024
ISSN (print) / ISBN
1876-0341
e-ISSN
1876-035X
ISBN
Bandtitel
Konferenztitel
Konferzenzdatum
Konferenzort
Konferenzband
Quellenangaben
Band: 17,
Heft: 4,
Seiten: 642-649
Artikelnummer: ,
Supplement: ,
Reihe
Verlag
Elsevier
Verlagsort
84 Theobalds Rd, London Wc1x 8rr, England
Tag d. mündl. Prüfung
0000-00-00
Betreuer
Gutachter
Prüfer
Topic
Hochschule
Hochschulort
Fakultät
Veröffentlichungsdatum
0000-00-00
Anmeldedatum
0000-00-00
Anmelder/Inhaber
weitere Inhaber
Anmeldeland
Priorität
Begutachtungsstatus
Peer reviewed
Institut(e)
Institute of Epidemiology (EPI)
POF Topic(s)
30202 - Environmental Health
Forschungsfeld(er)
Genetics and Epidemiology
PSP-Element(e)
G-504091-004
Förderungen
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Network of University
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2024-04-12