Prevalence of multimorbidity in migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons and association with mortality: A systematic review protocol

Abstract Background Multimorbidity is the presence of two or more physical and/or mental long-term health conditions and is associated with aging, but also with socio-economic deprivation. Immigration status contributes to socio-economic deprivation, potentially increasing prevalence of multimorbidity. Prevalence of multimorbidity in different migrant populations, such as asylum seekers, refugees and displaced persons, and its effect on mortality is poorly understood and no systematic review on the topic exists to date. Objective To assess what is known about the prevalence of multimorbidity in refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and displaced persons and about the association, if any, between multimorbidity and mortality in these populations. Design Systematic review of the literature. The following electronic medical databases will be searched: MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library. A narrative synthesis of findings will be undertaken, and meta-analysis considered if appropriate. Title, abstract and full paper screening will be undertaken independently by two reviewers. Studies will be limited to English and Spanish language and publication date from 2000 onward. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for Cohort Studies will be used as a quality assessment tool. This protocol adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Conclusion Understanding the prevalence of multimorbidity amongst refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and displaced persons, and its association with mortality will provide valuable insights to inform practice and policy responses to increasing global migration.