(1) Background: Recognizing mental health problems in newly arrived refugees poses a challenge. Little is known of the mental health profile of refugees currently arriving in Northern Europe. (2) Method: In total, we included 900 adult (≥18 years old) refugees arriving in Aarhus, Denmark, between 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2020. All participants accepted an offer of a voluntary systematic health assessment from the municipality in Aarhus, including a mental health screening. (3) Results: Within this cohort, 26% (237/900) of the participants were referred to the Department of Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, 24% (212/900) were in contact with the department and 21% (185/900) received ≥1 psychiatric diagnosis. Within the subpopulation referred (n = 237), 64% (152/237) were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (DF431), 14% (34/237) with neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (F40–F48) and 13% (30/237) with major mood disorders (F30–F39). Among the participants referred to the Department of Psychiatry and participants receiving a diagnosis, we found an overrepresentation of participants originating from the Southern Asian region (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran) and with an age above 44 years. (4) Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of both referrals and psychiatric diagnoses in newly arrived refugees. Attention to psychiatric conditions in refugees and systematic health assessments during resettlement are needed.

Torture victims live with complex health conditions. It is essential for the rehabilitation of torture survivors that their traumas are recognized at an early stage. The aim of this study was to investigate (i) the prevalence of reported torture exposure, (ii) the association between demographic characteristics and exposure to torture, and (iii) the association between PTSD and exposure to torture among recently arrived refugees in Aarhus, Denmark. Data were extracted from health assessments of refugees arriving in Aarhus in the years 2017–2019, and 208 cases were included in the analysis. The prevalence of reported torture was 13.9% (29/208). Most torture victims were found among refugees arriving from Iran (17.0% (9/53)), Syria (9.3% (8/86)), and Afghanistan (25.0% (5/20)). Significant associations were found between reported torture exposure and male gender, Southeast Asian origin, and a diagnosis of PTSD. In the study, 24.5% (24/98) of males and 4.5% (5/110) of females had been subjected to torture. However, it is possible that the prevalence of female torture survivors is underestimated due to the taboos surrounding sexual assaults and fear of stigmatization. Nearly half of the torture victims in the study were diagnosed with PTSD (44.8% (13/29)). The results confirm that torture victims constitute a vulnerable group living with severe consequences, including mental illness such as PTSD. Furthermore, understanding the cultural perspectives of the distress among refugees is crucial in providing appropriate healthcare services. This study highlights the importance of addressing the mental health needs of torture survivors and tailoring interventions toward vulnerable refugee populations.

Refugees have different disease patterns than the population in receiving countries. Furthermore, refugees face barriers to accessing health care services and treatment. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of eosinophilia and elevated IgE levels in refugees and assess the clinical follow-up. Using a cross-sectional study design, we offered health assessments, including eosinophil count and IgE level measurements, to all newly arrived refugees in a Danish municipality from January 2016 to November 2018. In a subgroup, we assessed the clinical follow-up. The study population consisted of 793 refugees, all of whom had eosinophil counts measured, with 411 also having IgE levels measured. Notably, 48.6% were female and most participants originated from Syria, Eritrea, Iran or Afghanistan, with smaller representation from several other countries. Notably, 6.8% had eosinophilia and 32.1% had elevated IgE levels. Syrian origin was associated with a lower prevalence of both biomarkers, and Eritrean origin with a higher prevalence. In a subgroup of 116 participants with abnormal results, general practitioners brought attention to the elevated levels in 50.9% of the cases, and 31.0% of these received a diagnosis related to the findings. In total, 98.3% (114) of patients in the subgroup had contact with their GP following the health assessment. In refugees, eosinophilia and elevated IgE levels are common conditions, and underlying causes are often not diagnosed, potentially leading to inadequate treatment and worse health outcomes.