Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Not yet recruiting
Administrative data
| NCT number |
NCT04307875 |
| Other study ID # |
coxs_2020 |
| Secondary ID |
|
| Status |
Not yet recruiting |
| Phase |
|
| First received |
|
| Last updated |
|
| Start date |
October 1, 2021 |
| Est. completion date |
September 30, 2022 |
Study information
| Verified date |
April 2021 |
| Source |
University Hospital Freiburg |
| Contact |
Alexander Supady, Dr. med. MPH |
| Phone |
+49761270 |
| Email |
alexander.supady[@]universitaets-herzzentrum.de |
| Is FDA regulated |
No |
| Health authority |
|
| Study type |
Observational
|
Clinical Trial Summary
Due to a massive outbreak of violence against the Rohingya minority residing in the Rakhine
State of Myanmar in late 2017, several hundred thousand Rohingya fled the country and sought
a shelter in Bangladesh. Currently, in the refugee settlement areas east of the city of Cox's
Bazar, close to 1 million Rohingya refugees live in refugee camps close to the municipalities
of Ukhia and Shamlapur.
According to previous examinations, there is a serious burden of non-communicable diseases in
Bangladesh. But little is known about the health status and the epidemiology of
non-communicable diseases in the Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh. Most importantly,
scientific evidence on non-communicable disease in humanitarian emergencies is rather
limited.
The aim of this study is to close this gap and to systematically assess the burden of
hypertension and diabetes within the Rohingya refugee population in refugee camps in
Bangladesh and in the host community in the Chittagong province. This assessment will help to
design and to introduce community-based intervention strategies aiming to improve the
population health status and reduce the disease burden.
Description:
Cardiovascular diseases are the predominant cause of death globally and in most low- and
middle-income countries (LMICs). More than 70% of all global deaths are due to
non-communicable diseases, almost half of them are caused by cardiovascular diseases.
Diabetes mellitus as a major cardiovascular risk factor accounts for more than 1.5 million
global deaths annually (almost 3% of all global deaths). In Bangladesh, according to WHO
estimates, 30% of all deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases and 3% are due to diabetes. A
recent study on more than 12,338 respondents revealed a 30.1% prevalence of hypertension and
a 4.9% prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 35 years and above in Bangladesh.
Due to a massive outbreak of violence against people of the Rohingya minority in the Rakhine
state of Myanmar in late 2017 several hundred thousand Rohingya fled the country and sought a
refuge in the Chittagong province in south-eastern Bangladesh. These seemingly organized and
coordinated attacks have been preceded by massive discrimination and recurrent violence
against the Rohingya minority for many decades. Presently, close to 1 million Rohingya
refugees settle in the refugee camps in the Chittagong province close to the municipalities
of Ukhia and Shamlapur.
Scientific evidence on care of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in humanitarian emergencies
is very limited. A recent systematic review identified only five scientific studies,
published between 1980 and 2014 on non-communicable diseases in humanitarian crises. Although
many humanitarian organizations from Bangladesh and from abroad organize and support the
provision of health services within the refugee camps, systematic evidence on the health
status of the Rohingya refugee population is scarce - this is particularly true for chronic
and non-communicable diseases.
As in the host community in Bangladesh, there will be a relevant burden of NCDs within the
Rohingya refugee population. Furthermore, since the Rohingya have been discriminated for many
years and access to health services was restricted for them, many of the diseased will be
undiagnosed and untreated and a relevant number of individuals will suffer from long-term
complications of untreated disease.
Chittagong province is one of the poorest regions in Bangladesh. Access to primary health
services in Bangladesh is limited for many people due to various barriers, affordability
being a major reason. A recent observation conducted by Gonoshasthaya Kendra, a project
partner in the here presented study, revealed that the distance between place of residence
and the nearest health facility and transportation costs are a major obstacle for people in
Shamlapur to seek medical care. Data from previous nationwide epidemiologic studies do not
sufficiently consider socioeconomic gradients within the Bangladesh population and therefore
do not provide substantial information on hypertension and diabetes disease burden in the
Rohingya refugee population and the host communities around the refugee camps.
The aim of this study is to systematically assess the burden of hypertension and diabetes
mellitus within the Rohingya refugee population in the refugee camps in Bangladesh and in the
host community in Chittagong province. This basic epidemiological information is essential
for the planning, resource allocation and management of prevention and treatment strategies
and programs for the respective populations. Considering the increasing relevance and burden
of non-communicable and cardiovascular diseases particularly in low- and middle-income
countries, a solid epidemiological data base is a mandatory prerequisite to address this
global public health challenge. Therefore, this assessment will help to design and to
introduce community-based intervention strategies aiming to improve the population health
status and reduce the disease burden.
