Objectives: To assess disparities in health and healthcare between asylum seekers (AS) and residents in Germany as a proof of concept using European Core Health Indicators (ECHI). Design: Population-based cross-sectional feasibility study. Participants: All AS (aged 18 years or above) registered in three counties in Germany during a 3-month study period (N=1017). Cross-sectional data on the resident population were taken from the German Health Interview (2008-2011, N=8152), and the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (2012, N=23 065). Outcome measures: Self-reported health status and healthcare access (utilisation and unmet medical need) in line with ECHI. Method: Inequalities in health and access to healthcare were quantified both by crude and age-stratified/sex-stratified ORs with 95% CI using cross-tabulations. Results: A total of N=156 AS (15.34%) participated in the study. Compared with residents, AS were significantly more likely to report a bad health status (OR=1.72 (1.23 to 2.41)), activity limitations (OR=1.97 (1.39 to 2.79)) or (only younger age groups) any chronic morbidity (18-24 years: OR=6.23 (2.62 to 14.57); 25-49 years: OR=2.05 (1.23 to 3.37)). AS had significantly lower odds for consulting any physician (OR=0.1 (0.07 to 0.16)) or general practitioners (OR=0.44 (0.31 to 0.62)), but higher odds for hospital admissions (OR=2.29 (1.54 to 3.34)), visits to psychotherapists (OR=4.07 (2.48 to 6.43)) and unmet needs (OR=3.74 (2.62 to 5.21)). The direction of healthcare-related associations was consistent across all strata despite variation in magnitude and statistical significance. Conclusions: Quantifying disparities between AS and the resident population by means of selected ECHI proved to be feasible. The approach yielded first quantitative evidence for disparities in health and access to healthcare in the German context. Further research is needed to generate representative estimates, for example, by including AS in national health monitoring programmes.

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hospital admission Germany refugee psychotherapist health disparity Health Status Disparities human Refugees middle aged Odds Ratio Self Report statistics and numerical data health status general practitioner morbidity Feasibility Studies resident Cross-Sectional Studies interview asylum seeker Young Adult income cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent male female European Union standards Article feasibility study health care adult physician health care access age Age Factors Healthcare Disparities health care disparity Health Services Accessibility health care delivery