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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        Publikationstyp
        Artikel: Journalartikel
    
 
    
        Dokumenttyp
        Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
    
 
    
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        Schlagwörter
        Infections ; Infectious Diseases ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 ; Ukraine ; Refugees
    
 
    
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        Sprache
        englisch
    
 
    
        Veröffentlichungsjahr
        2024
    
 
    
        Prepublished im Jahr 
        0
    
 
    
        HGF-Berichtsjahr
        2024
    
 
    
    
        ISSN (print) / ISBN
        1876-0341
    
 
    
        e-ISSN
        1876-035X
    
 
    
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	    Band: 17,  
	    Heft: 4,  
	    Seiten: 642-649 
	    Artikelnummer: ,  
	    Supplement: ,  
	
    
 
  
        
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            Verlag
            Elsevier
        
 
        
            Verlagsort
            84 Theobalds Rd, London Wc1x 8rr, England
        
 
	
        
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        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