ABSTRACT

Objective

Data on how Syrian refugees are affected by COVID-19 are not documented. In this study, it was aimed to examine the admissions to a COVID-19 pandemic hospital in a province where Syrian refugees live frequently in Türkiye.

Material and Methods

Data was collected retrospectively from hospital records. The variables were age, sex, nationality, test positivity, comorbidity and death due to COVID-19. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was applied to patients admitted with suspicion of COVID-19, and patients with positive results were diagnosed with COVID-19. Results: PCR results of 177 (18%) of 983 patients who applied with COVID-19 suspicion were positive. Out of 177 people whose results were positive for COVID-19, 173 were Turkish citizens and only four were Syrian refugees. Median age of the Turkish citizens [54 (min= 0, max= 96)] was significantly (p< 0.0001) higher than Syrian refugees [15 (min= 0, max= 94)]. Turkish citizens had approximately six fold higher test positivity rates than the Syrian refugees [OR= 5.969, 95% CI. (2.099-16.977)].

Conclusion

We found a lower rate of hospital admissions and test positivity rate for Syrian refugees. Although these results may be attributed to the lower median age of Syrian refugees, we also think that increased immunization, secondary to recent tight vaccination programs, may also play a role.