BACKGROUNDMigrations have been reported to be associated with the high risk of tuberculosis (TB), but there is no systematic analysis of the available data for TB among migrant in China. The aim of this study was to examine the notification rate of active and sputum smear-positive TB by a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODSA systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to examine the notification rate of active and sputum smear-positive TB among migrants in China. Two reviewers searched the cross-sectional studies published in PubMed, EMBASE, SciFinder, and Web of Science in English and in CNKI and Wanfang databases in Chinese. Pooled estimates of notification rate of TB among migrants were calculated using a random effects model. Meta-regression analysis and subgroup analysis stratified by year, region were also performed.

RESULTSSeventy eligible studies met the inclusion criteria for the final analysis. The overall notification rate of active TB and sputum smear-positive cases among migrants were 53.12 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 47.32-59.63) and 24.53 (95% CI: 22.01-27.34) per 100,000 populations, respectively. The notification rate of active TB significantly increased from 50.95 (95% CI: 41.11-63.14) per 100,000 populations in 2005 to 84.62 (95% CI: 78.00-91.80) per 100,000 populations in 2014 while that of smear-positive TB was constant during the study time (P = 0.79). The geographic difference was identified both for active and sputum smear-positive TB, with the higher notification rates mainly distributing along the eastern coastal areas.

CONCLUSIONSThe pooled estimate of active TB and sputum smear-positive TB among migrants was lower than the national notification rate among general population, but the gap between our data and national notification rate among general population is narrowed down during 2005-2014.