1.The epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Pacific, 2000 to 2013
Viney Kerri ; Hoy Damian ; Roth Adam ; Kelly Paul ; Harley David ; Sleigh Adrian
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2015;6(3):59-67
Objective:Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant public health challenge in the 22 Pacific island countries and territories. Using TB surveillance data and World Health Organization (WHO) estimates from 2000 to 2013, we summarize the epidemiology of TB in the Pacific.
This was a descriptive study of incident TB cases reported annually by Pacific island national TB programmes to WHO. We counted cases and calculated proportions and case notification rates per 100 000 population. We calculated the proportion of TB patients who completed TB treatment and summed estimates of national incidence, prevalence and mortality, provided by WHO, to produce regional incidence, prevalence and mortality rates per 100 000 population.Results:Estimated TB incidence in the Pacific has remained high but stable from 2000 to 2013; estimated prevalence and mortality have fallen by 20% and 47%, respectively. The TB case notification rate increased by 58%, from 146 to 231 per 100 000 population in the same time period. In 2013, 24 145 TB cases were notified, most (94% or 22 657) were from Papua New Guinea. Kiribati had the highest TB case notification rate at 398 cases per 100 000 population. TB case notification rates were also high in Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu (309, 283 and 182, respectively).Discussion:TB in the Pacific is improving in some areas; however, high rates affect many countries and the estimated regional incidence rate is stable. To further reduce the burden of TB, a combination of dedicated public health and system-wide approaches are required along with poverty reduction and social protection initiatives.
2.The long term (9-year) survival of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients compared to non-multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Henan province.
Yan-ni SUN ; Guo-jie WANG ; Xin-an ZHEN ; Zhan-feng LIU ; David HARLEY ; Gillian HALL ; Hassan VALLY ; Adrian SLEIGH
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2013;34(2):133-136
OBJECTIVETo investigate the long term survival of MDR-TB patients compared to non-MDR-TB in Henan province in 2010.
METHODSParticipants were randomly selected in 2010 from a dataset generated by an anti-TB drug resistance surveillance survey conducted by the Tuberculosis Control Institute, Henan Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in 2001, supported by the World Health Organization. Information on patient's demographic profile and medical records was extracted by trained doctors and nurses at local anti-TB dispensaries. Interviews were carried out using questionnaires to collect information on the socioeconomic features and survival status. Bivariate and multivariate with logistic regression were performed for data analysis.
RESULTSThe long term outcome of MDR-TB patients was much poorer when compared to non-MDR-TB patients. The case fatality was much higher among MDR-TB than non-MDR-TB patients (22.1% vs. 6.7%). The risk factors associated with the poorer outcome would include drug resistance status, disease relapse, hospitalization for treatment and long treatment period. Compared to non-MDR-TB, the survival time for MDR-TB was much shorter after having had the disease (6.7 years vs. 8.0 years).
CONCLUSIONMDR-TB patients had poor long term outcomes. As most of the cured TB patients were under productive age in the society, the high case fatality rate of MDR-TB would impose big burden on the related family and communities. Findings from this study suggested that the TB control programs should involve more efforts be paid on MDR-TB control, in order to reduce the burden of the disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; mortality ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; mortality ; Young Adult