Influence of Migration on Tuberculosis in a Semi-Urban Area

• Published in: Archivos de bronconeumología (English ed.) Vol. 50; no. 8; pp. 325 - 331
• Main Authors: Molina-Salas, Yolanda, Lomas-Campos, María de las Mercedes, Romera-Guirado, Francisco José, Romera-Guirado, María Jesús
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain Elsevier España 01.08.2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use; Crowding; Drug Therapy, Combination; Emigrants and Immigrants - statistics & numerical data; Epidemiology; Epidemiología; Europe - ethnology; Female; Humans; Immigration; Incidence; Incidencia; Inmigración; Internal Medicine; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Morocco - ethnology; Nigeria - ethnology; Population Surveillance; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Smoking - epidemiology; South America - ethnology; Spain - epidemiology; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; Suburban Population - statistics & numerical data; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis - drug therapy; Tuberculosis - epidemiology; Young Adult; South America; Morocco; Nigeria; Europe; Spain; Epidemiología; Inmigración; Tuberculosis; Immigration; Incidencia; Epidemiology; Incidence
• ISSN: 1579-2129; 1579-2129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arbr.2014.06.004

Abstract Aims To describe the epidemiology of tuberculosis and analyzing the differences among native and immigrant patients in Area III of the Region of Murcia. Methods Cohort study of tuberculosis cases reported to the Epidemiological Surveillance Service from 2004 to 2009. Data collection was performed through the System of Notification Diseases, reviewing clinical files and epidemiological surveys. Results One hundred and sixty two cases were detected; 110 (67.9%) were immigrants, whose incidence rates ranged from 43.4 to 101.2 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. Ecuador (42.7%), Bolivia (30%) and Morocco (18.2%) were the main nationalities. Immigrants were younger than Spanish population ( P <.001). The overall diagnostic delay was 50.5 days: 59.5 in Spanish and 47 in foreigners. Moroccans had higher proportions of extrapulmonary TB ( P =.02). Mainly, immigrant population took treatment with four drugs ( P <.001). Natives had better treatment adherence ( P =.04). Spanish cases of tuberculosis were associated with smoking ( P <.001), the same as alcohol consumption ( P =.01) and injection drug use ( P <.001), nevertheless in the foreign-born population the most relevant risk factor was overcrowding ( P <.001). Conclusions The incidence of tuberculosis rates are higher among immigrant population, where the main risk factor is overcrowding. In contrast, Spanish cases are associated with toxic substances consumption and increasing age.