Tuberculosis in elderly Australians: a 10-year retrospective review
10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.1.1040
- Author:
Yasmin Lisson
1
,
2
;
Aparna Lal
1
;
Ben Marais
3
,
4
;
Anna Glynn-Robinson
1
Author Information
1. National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
2. Office of Health Protection and Response Division, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
3. Centre for Research Excellence in Tuberculosis, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
4. Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, therapy, aged, migrants, epidemiology, Australia
- From:
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response
2024;15(1):20-29
- CountryWHO-WPRO
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective: This report describes the epidemiology of active tuberculosis (TB) in elderly Australians (>=65 years) with analysis of the factors associated with TB disease and successful treatment outcomes.
Methods: A retrospective study of TB cases reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System over a 10-year period from 2011 to 2020 was conducted. Cases were stratified by sex, age, risk factors, drug resistance, treatment type and outcome. Notification rates and incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and factors associated with treatment success analysed using multivariable logistic regression.
Results: A total of 2231 TB cases among elderly people were reported over the study period, with a 10-year mean incidence rate of 6.2 per 100 000 population. The median age of cases was 75 years (range 65–100 years); most were male (65%) and born overseas (85%). Multivariable analysis found that successful treatment outcome was strongly associated with younger age, while unsuccessful treatment outcome was associated with being diagnosed within the first 2 years of arrival in Australia, ever having resided in an aged-care facility and resistance to fluoroquinolones.
Discussion: Compared to other low-incidence settings in the Western Pacific Region, TB incidence in elderly people is low and stable in Australia, with most cases occurring among recent migrants from TB-endemic settings. Continued efforts to reduce TB importation and address migrant health, especially among elderly people, are important.
- Full text:20240704134927858701040 Lisson - FINAL.pdf
