Prevalence and associated risk factors of COVID-19 infection experienced by refugees seeking asylum in Berlin

Prevalence and flight-associated risk factors of COVID-19 infection experienced by refugees: acute infections and seroprevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a population of asylum seekers arriving at the medical examination centre for refugees based in Berlin

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN17401860

Enrollment

800

Registered

2021-03-19

Start date

2021-03-24

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2023-07-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 infection) Infections and Infestations

Interventions

All refugees who wish to seek asylum in Berlin receive a mandatory preliminary medical exam upon their arrival in the registration center. This exam consists of triage and first aid, documentation of

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Participants aged 18 years and older 2. Participants seeking asylum in Berlin

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: There are no specific exclusion criteria. If patients of the Medical Examination Centre do not wish to take part in the study, neither blood is sampled nor is the questionnaire (Part A and B) filled out and the routine exam is continued normally.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 measured via a PCR test for acute infections and via a blood sample for the identification of past infections and the development of specific antibodies. The tests occur during the participants’ routine medical exam at the Medical Examination Centre.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Current and past COVID-19 symptoms measured using questionnaire items posed by medical staff during the routine consultation 2. Hygiene and living conditions of the past 2 weeks measured using questionnaire items posed by medical staff during the routine consultation 3. Level of education measured using questionnaire items posed by medical staff during the routine consultation 4. Results of SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid tests (nasopharyngeal swab) carried out prior to the medical exam by the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK). The DRK is a medical first-aid service responsible for antigen rapid tests screening upon arrival of refugees before registration begins 5. Transit and travel route of the asylum seekers apprehended using questionnaire items posed by translators at the Landesamt für Fluechtlingsangelegenheiten (LAF) after the routine consultation. The LAF is the state authority responsible for coordinating the registry of asylum seekers and their eligibility for financial, social and medical support in Berlin 6. Routine medical data (age, gender, tuberculosis status, pregnancy, allergies etc) collected during the medical consultation carried out by the staff of the Medical Examination Center	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Current and past COVID-19 symptoms measured using questionnaire items posed by medical staff during the routine consultation 2. Hygiene and living conditions of the past 2 weeks measured using questionnaire items posed by medical staff during the routine consultation 3. Level of education measured using questionnaire items posed by medical staff during the routine consultation 4. Results of SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid tests (nasopharyngeal swab) carried out prior to the medical exam by the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK). The DRK is a medical first-aid service responsible for antigen rapid tests screening upon arrival of refugees before registration begins 5. Transit and travel route of the asylum seekers apprehended using questionnaire items posed by translators at the Landesamt für Fluechtlingsangelegenheiten (LAF) after the routine consultation. The LAF is the state authority responsible for coordinating the registry of asylum seekers and their eligibility for financial, social and medical support in Berlin 6. Routine medical data (age, gender, tuberculosis status, pregnancy, allergies etc) collected during the medical consultation carried out by the staff of the Medical Examination Center

—

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 9, 2026