Burden of Disease in Refugee Patients with Diabetes on the Island of Lesvos-The Experience of a Frontline General Hospital

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease which poses a great burden on refugee populations, who are confronted with limited access to healthcare services and disruption of pre-existing pharmacological treatment.

Aims: We sought to evaluate the degree of hyperglycaemia in refugees with known or recently diagnosed diabetes, to assess cardiovascular comorbidities and diabetes complications, to review and provide available therapeutic options, and to compare, if possible, the situation in Lesvos with other locations hosting refugee populations, thus raising our awareness towards barriers to accessing healthcare and managing diabetes in these vulnerable populations and to propose follow-up strategies.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 69 refugee patients (68% of Afghan origin, 64% female) with diabetes mellitus (81% with type 2 diabetes), who were referred to the diabetes outpatient clinics of the General Hospital of Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece, between June 2019 and December 2020. Age, Body Mass Index, diabetes duration, glycaemic control (HbA1c and random glucose), blood pressure, estimated renal function, lipid profile, diabetes complications and current medication were documented at presentation and during subsequent visits.

Results: For all patients with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, age at presentation was 17.7 and 48.1 years, BMI 19.6 kg/m² and 28.9 kg/m² and HbA1c 9.6% and 8.7%, respectively (all medians). One-third (29%) of patients with type 2 diabetes presented either with interrupted or with no previous pharmacological treatment. Insulin was administered to only 21% of refugees with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Only half of the patients (48%) with hypertension were taking antihypertensive medication and one-sixth (17%) were taking lipid-lowering medication. Forty-two per cent (42%) of patients were lost to follow-up.

Conclusions: Our results showed that a significant portion of refugees with diabetes have either no treatment at all or have had their treatment discontinued, that insulin is still underutilised and that a significant portion of patients are lost to follow-up. It is essential to enhance our ability to identify refugees who may be at risk of developing diabetes or experiencing complications related to the disease. Additionally, it is important to expand access to crucial treatment and monitoring services. By improving our policies for managing non-communicable diseases, we can better support the health and well-being of these vulnerable populations. Furthermore, it is vital to recognize that Greece cannot bear the burden of the refugee crisis alone; international support and collaboration are necessary to address these challenges effectively.

Keywords: Lesvos refugee camps; barriers to accessing healthcare; diabetes; refugees.

Figure 1

Sea arrivals in Greece January–December 2015 (source: UNHCR Operational Data Portal).

Figure 2

Sea arrivals between 2019 and 2023 (source: UNHCR Operational Data Portal).