Forensic and Health Challenges of Refugees in Turkish Emergency Departments: A Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND The growing number of refugees in Turkey has had a considerable impact on the healthcare system, particularly in emergency departments (EDs). It is of great importance to gain insight into the demographic, clinical, and financial challenges associated with providing healthcare to refugees in these settings in order to enhance the quality of care and optimize resource allocation. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical findings in 5729 refugees presenting to a major emergency department in Turkey during 2023. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study was conducted between January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, at one of Turkey's largest hospitals. The study focused on refugees who presented to the emergency department and included an analysis of demographic data, clinical diagnoses, treatment outcomes, and financial costs associated with refugee cases. RESULTS A total of 415 464 patients presented to the ED, of these, 5729 (1.4%) were refugees. The largest group of refugee patients were Syrian nationals (2238, 39%). Among all refugee patients, 4230 (73%) presented with internal medical conditions, while 1498 (27%) were classified as medicolegal cases (p=0.02). The most prevalent medicolegal causes were simple falls (896, 59.8%) and firearm injuries and assaults (342, 22.8%). The majority of patients (n=4584, 80%) were discharged from the emergency department following treatment. A total of 488 patients (8.5%) required hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study highlight the intricate interrelationship between medical, forensic, and financial challenges in refugee healthcare, underscoring the pivotal role of EDs in addressing these complexities.