(1) Background: Post-arrival screening for infectious diseases is routinely offered to newly arrived refugees in Denmark, including tests for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis. This study aimed to examine the cascade of care following positive screening results in a local cohort of refugees in Denmark, with a focus on subsequent clinical management, follow-up, and outcomes. (2) Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 1506 newly arrived refugees of all ages and countries of origin. All were offered a post-arrival infectious disease screening in Denmark. Clinical records were reviewed to assess progression through the cascade of care, including referral, evaluation, follow-up, and clinical outcomes among individuals with positive screening results. (3) Results: Of the 1506 screened refugees, 33 (2.2%) had at least one positive screening result. Among the 15 individuals with detectable hepatitis B surface antigen, six (43%) attended regular follow-up, while eight (57%) were lost during the cascade of care. Two participants screened positive for HCV antibodies; both underwent initial clinical evaluation, but their subsequent care trajectories differed due to repeated non-attendance or undocumented reasons. Only one participant with non-specific syphilis antibodies completed follow-up in accordance with national guidelines. One participant was diagnosed with HIV and successfully linked to care. (4) Conclusions: The prevalence of screened infectious diseases in this local Danish refugee cohort was low and consistent with findings from comparable settings. Although post-arrival screening facilitates the identification of infectious diseases, substantial loss to follow-up occurred after initial diagnosis, limiting the effectiveness of follow-up and treatment. These findings highlight the need for targeted, interdisciplinary strategies addressing organisational, social, and individual barriers to improve continuity of care following screening.

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.

Anemia is a major contributor to the global burden of disease and is associated with poor health outcomes and impaired quality of life. Refugees often flee from countries with poverty or conflict and deteriorating health systems. As a result, refugees are vulnerable to several underlying causes of anemia. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anemia and its associations with sociodemographic factors in refugees resettling in Denmark. This cross-sectional study is based on health assessments comprising medical interviews, physical examinations, and blood samples offered to newly arrived refugees in Aarhus Municipality from January 2014 – November 2018. Data on 1) hemoglobin level, 2) age, 3) sex, 4) pregnancy status, 5) country of origin, 6) educational attainment and 7) route of arrival were extracted for analysis. Of 1261 refugees who participated in the health assessment, 45.8% were female. Main countries of origin were Syria, Eritrea and Iran. A total of 101 participants (8%) had anemia. Prevalence was high among pregnant woman and adults >25 years, and low among children <15 years. Prevalence was higher among refugees arriving through family reunification programs and programs coordinated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The analysis revealed notable differences in prevalence when using hemoglobin thresholds defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) versus by local guidelines. Anemia is prevalent among refugees and is associated with various sociodemographic factors. Using internationally accepted hemoglobin thresholds may provide a more accurate estimate of anemia in refugee populations. Given the low cost and simplicity of hemoglobin measurement, we recommend including screening for anemia in health assessments for resettled refugees.