Hypertension and Diabetes Assessment in the Rohingya Refugee Population and in the Host Communities in Bangladesh

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.