Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Migrant Patients Visiting the Emergency Department

Introduction Disasters, war, violence, and famine have driven people to migrate in search of a better life, resulting in an increasing number of health issues related to migration. Turkiye has historically been a host country for migration due to its geopolitical location for economic and educational reasons, among other reasons. Migrants frequently visit emergency departments (EDs) regarding their chronic or acute diseases. Understanding the characteristics and admission diagnosis in EDs can help healthcare providers identify areas that require attention. This study aimed to determine the demographic characteristics and most frequent reasons for migrant patients visiting the ED. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the ED of a tertiary hospital in Turkiye between January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022. Sociodemographic data and diagnoses were obtained from the hospital information system and medical records. Migrant patients who visited the ED for any reason were included, while patients with inaccessible data, no diagnosis code, or missing information were excluded. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and compared using the Mann-Whitney U test, Student's t-test, and Chi-squared test. Results Out of 3865 migrant patients, 2186 (56.6%) were male, and the median age was 22 (17-27) years. Most patients (74.5%) were from the Middle East, and 16.6% were from Africa. The most common reasons for visiting the hospital were R00-99 "Symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified" (45.6%); M00-99 "Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue" (29.2%); and J00-99 "Diseases of the respiratory system" (23.1%). Among the African patients, 82.7% were students, while 85.4% of Middle Eastern patients were non-students. The number of visits differed significantly between regions, with Middle Easterners visiting more frequently than Africans and Europeans. Conclusion The majority of the patients were from the Middle East. Also, patients from the Middle East had more visits and a higher likelihood of being hospitalized than patients from other regions. The sociodemographic characteristics of migrant patients visiting ED and information about their diagnoses can help determine the profile of patients that emergency physicians are likely to encounter.