Table 2 Previous or ongoing systematic reviews regarding infectious diseases and respiratory infections in refugees and asylum seekers
Authors (year) | Name of review | N references | Population | Infection(s) | Intervention(s) /exposure(s) | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dasgupta, et al. (2005) [25] | Cost-effectiveness of tuberculosis control strategies among immigrants and refugees | 72 | Immigrants, refugees from high to low incidence-countries | Tuberculosis | All TB- related diagnostics* | 1) Previously used chest-x-ray has minimal impact 2) Ideal control strategy would be global investment in high-incidence countries 3) Cell-mediated strategies are expensive and were not evaluated for screening purposes |
Aldridge et al. (2014) [26] | Pre-entry screening programmes for tuberculosis in migrants to low-incidence countries | 15 | Migrants to low-incidence-countries | Tuberculosis | Pre-entry-screening (all TB- related diagnostics*) | 1) Biggest yield for culture- and smear-based screening for individuals from high-incidence-countries 2) Ideal control strategy would be domestic returns for Investment in tuberculosis control programs overseas |
Campbell et al. (2015) [27] | A systematic review on TST and IGRA tests used for diagnosis of LTBI in immigrants | 51 | Immigrants | Tuberculosis | TST and IGRA in low-incidence countries | 1) TST and IGRA present similar sensitivity and specificity for active TB–IGRA may be preferred in immigrants 2) positive test prevalence was lower for individuals < 18 years old and individuals from low-incidence countries |
De-vries et al. (2017) [41] | Barriers and facilitators to the uptake of tuberculosis diagnostic and treatment services by hard-to-reach | 12 | Hard-to-reach (mainly migrants) | Tuberculosis | Risk-factors for limited uptake of TB treatment and diagnostic | 1) Tuberculosis-related Stigmatisation was perceived as a major barrier 2) Institutional barriers main factors for delay to diagnosis 3) No strong evidence on facilitators found 4) Cultural and language barriers main factors for health-care providers |
Heuvelings et al. (2017) [29] | Effectiveness of interventions for diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in hard-to-reach populations in countries of low and medium tuberculosis incidence | 19 | Hard-to-reach | Tuberculosis | Treatment of active TB in OECD, EU, EEA and EU-applicant countries | 1) Mobile chest-x ray units are an effective and easy way of diagnosing active TB, because of poor follow-up in this population 2) Active referral to TB clinics has been shown to be effective in migrants for the uptake of treatment 3) Community dot by non-family members seem to be most effective, some contradictions 4) Incentives are a valuable intervention to increase uptake of screening, diagnosis and adherence to treatment in homeless people and drug abusers |
Bellos et al. (2010) [8] | The burden of acute respiratory infections in crisis-affected populations | 36 | Health-crises affected populations | Acute respiratory infections | Affected by health crises | 1) High burden of ARI even increases during crises 2) Older children should be more integrated in vaccination strategies 3) More resources should be invested for ARI prevention and control |
Bozorgmehr et al. (2017) [24] | Infectious disease screening in asylum seekers—range, coverage and economic evaluation in Germany, 2015 | n.a | Refugees | Screened infectious diseases | Health screening implemented by German states | 1) Newly arrived refugees are mainly affected by screening for active TB, STI and stool parasites 2) Expenses for screening using private fees could be 30% higher 3) High costs in diseases with low yield argue for more evidence-based approaches in screening methods |
Crocker-buque et al. (2017) [79] | Immunization, urbanization and slums—a systematic review of factors and interventions | 63 | Hard-to-reach neighbourhood mostly in middle and low-income countries | VPD*** | Living in difficult conditions | 1) Many different factors associated with immunization status strongly varying by investigated area 2) Community involvement has shown to face several factors for low immunization at the same time 3) Physical distance to health services should be reduced 4) Maternal education has shown to be effective |
Eiset et al. (2017) [5] | Review of infectious diseases in refugees and asylum seekers-current status and going forward | 51 | Refugees and other migrants | Infectious diseases | Migrant status (prevalence studies) | 1) Prevalence of TB is rising 2) Infectious diseases are important in refugees 3) Risk of transmission to autochthonous population is low 4) Refugee status and context of flight is rarely considered in studies |
Hvass et al. (2017) [22] | Systematic health screening of refugees after resettlement in recipient countries | 53 | Refugees | Screened infectious diseases | Implemented health screenings | 1) Circumstances of screening strongly depend on recipient country 2) Most common screened diseases are TB, parasites, hepatitis and anaemia 3) Though important–mental health issues and chronic diseases were only screened in a few studies |
Mipatrini et al. (2017) [9] | Vaccinations in migrants and refugees—a challenge for european health systems | 58 | Migrants and refugees in Europe | VPD*** | Strategies for assessment and immunisation | 1) Health systems of countries of origin often are disrupted from war, leading to risk of critical infection with VPD*** 2) Polio and MMR-vaccines should be prioritised, tetanus, diphtheria and hep. B. As well |
Pavli et al. (2017) [4] | Health problems of newly arrived migrants and refugees in europe | n.i | Refugees and migrants in Europe | Infectious and other diseases | Migrant status (prevalence studies) | 1) Prevalence and disease-spectrums vary by country of origin 2) Respiratory diseases are the most common health issue at the Greek-Turkish border 3) Access to health care is often influenced by legal limitations for refugees |
Pottie et al. (2017) [80] | [Review-protocol] Prevention and assessment of infectious diseases among children and adult migrants arriving to the European Union/European Economic Association | n.a | Migrants in Europe | Tuberculosis Hepatitis b and c VPD*** HIV Intestinal parasites | Being targeted by any prevention and assessment strategy considered | Data not yet published- |
Chernet et al. (2018) [81] | Prevalence rates of six selected infectious diseases among African migrants and refugees | 113 | Migrants/ refugees of African origin | Hepatitis b and c Intestinal parasites Syphilis | Migrant status (prevalence studies) | 1) Blood-borne infections are more relevant in refugees than intestinal parasitic infections 2) Transmission cycle of parasitic infections is interrupted in recipient countries 3) Geographic region of origin shows correlation with disease-spectrum |
Nellums et al. (2018) [6] | Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe | 23 | Migrants in Europe | Infection with AMR° | Migrant status (observational studies) | 1) Prevalence of AMR in migrants is about 25% overall 2) Prevalence of AMR higher in refugees/asylum seekers than other migrants 3) No data found on transmission to autochthonous population |
Seedat et al. (2018) [23] | How effective are approaches to migrant screening for infectious diseases in Europe? | 47 | Migrants in Europe | Screened infectious diseases | Implemented health screenings | 1) Innovative strategies should be implemented for completion of screening and treatment 2) Coverage of screening is low 3) EU/EEA approach of screening is too restrictive/focussed on single diseases |