Background: Lungs are particularly vulnerable to both acute infections, including TB, and chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as to malignancies, all of which require particular attention during war times in which health conditions are far from optimal. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 1149 refugees that underwent thoracic computed tomography (CT) for respiratory symptoms between March 2013 and February 2015 in Turkey. Results: At least one positive CT finding was seen in 231 (20.1%) of the patients. The most common findings were chronic pulmonary changes (n=197, 17.2%), followed by findings suggestive of infections (n=39, 3.4%), and mass/nodular lesions (n=16, 1.4%). The rates of the lesions suggestive of active TB and malignancy were 1.0% (n=11) and 0.7% (n=8), respectively. Age 55-64 years was an independent significant predictor for any CT lesion, chronic changes, mass lesions, and lesions suggestive of malignancy. Age-65 years was predictive of any CT lesion and chronic changes. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate the need for implementation of cost-effective screening strategies in refugees, particularly during war times. Screening for TB would improve disease control among both refugees and the host populations. Middle aged and older individuals, in particular, would benefit from more proactive screening tools and strategies for the early diagnosis of pulmonary malignancies and chronic lung diseases. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. All rights reserved.

immigrants Asylum seeking refugees Computed tomography Thoracic malignancy tuberculosis Civil war

lung lesion thorax examination refugee mass screening lung cancer lung infection human Refugees middle aged statistics and numerical data Turkey (republic) Aged respiratory tract disease Cross-Sectional Studies asylum seeker diagnostic imaging cross-sectional study Humans lung tuberculosis Lung male Tuberculosis, Pulmonary Tomography, X-Ray Computed female Article Retrospective Studies major clinical study adult age Turkey x-ray computed tomography computer assisted tomography Lung Diseases lung disease retrospective study