title: Primary Care Screening Methods and Outcomes for Asylum Seekers in New York City.
abstract: Effective screening in primary care among asylum-seekers in the US is critical as this population grows. This study aimed to evaluate disease prevalence and screening methods in this high-risk group. Two hundred ten new clients from 51 countries, plus Tibet, who were accepted into a program for asylum seekers from 2012 to 2014 were included. Screening rates and outcomes for infectious, non-communicable, and mental illnesses were evaluated. Screening rates were highest for PTSD, depression, hepatitis B, and latent tuberculosis. Seventy-one percent of clients screened positive for depression and 55 % for PTSD, followed by latent tuberculosis (41 %), hypertension (10 %), hepatitis B (9.4 %), and HIV (0.8 %). Overall screening rates were high. Point of care testing was more effective than testing that required a repeat visit. A large psychiatric and infectious disease burden was identified. These findings can inform future primary care screening efforts for asylum seekers in the US.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Nathan.Bertelsen@nyumc.org.|Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Nathan.Bertelsen@nyumc.org.|Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA. Nathan.Bertelsen@nyumc.org.|Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. Nathan.Bertelsen@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Nathan S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bertelsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.|Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Selden
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Polina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krass
authors.affiliation: University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada.|Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Eva S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Keatley
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.|Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.|Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Asylum seeker; Health screening; Hypertension screening; Immigrant health; Infectious disease screening; Mental health screening; Primary health care