Yonsei Medical Journal
Volume 58, Issue 3, 2017, Pages 592-597

Social and clinical characteristics of immigrants with tuberculosis in South Korea (Article) (Open Access)

Min G.H. , Kim Y. , Lee J.S. , Oh J.Y. , Hur G.Y. , Lee Y.S. , Min K.H. , Lee S.Y. , Kim J.H. , Shin C. , Lee S.H.*
  • a Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, South Korea
  • b Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, South Korea
  • c Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, South Korea
  • d Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
  • e Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
  • f Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
  • g Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
  • h Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
  • i Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, South Korea
  • j Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, South Korea
  • k Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, South Korea

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the social and clinical characteristics of immigrants with tuberculosis (TB) in South Korea. Materials and Methods: The registered adult TB patients who were diagnosed and treated in Korea Medical Centers from January 2013 to December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 105 immigrants with TB were compared to 932 native Korean TB patients. Results: Among these 105 immigrants with TB, 86 (82%) were Korean-Chinese. The rate of drug-susceptible TB were lower in the immigrants group than in the native Korean group [odds ratio (OR): 0.46; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22–0.96, p=0.035]. Cure rate was higher in the immigrant group than in the native Korean group (OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.26–3.28, p=0.003). Treatment completion rate was lower in the immigrant group than in the native Korean group (OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.33–0.74, p=0.001). However, treatment success rate showed no significant difference between two groups (p=0.141). Lost to follow up (default) rate was higher in the immigrant group than in the native Korean group after adjusting for age and drug resistance (OR: 3.61; 95% CI: 1.36–9.61, p=0.010). There was no difference between defaulter and non-defaulter in clinical characteristics or types of visa among these immigrants (null p value). However, 43 TB patients with recent immigration were diagnosed as TB even though they had been screened as normal at the time of immigration. Conclusion: Endeavor to reduce the default rate of immigrants with TB and reinforce TB screening during the immigration process must be performed for TB infection control in South Korea. © Yonsei University College of Medicine 2017.

Author Keywords

immigrants Medication adherence tuberculosis Microbial sensitivity tests Mass screening

Index Keywords

South Korea Republic of Korea sputum smear mass screening aminosalicylic acid follow up human epidemiology immigration middle aged Odds Ratio statistics and numerical data controlled study Aged medication compliance ethnology kanamycin ofloxacin migrant psychology Humans Treatment Outcome tuberculostatic agent Antitubercular Agents male Emigrants and Immigrants female sputum analysis risk factor tuberculosis Risk Factors cycloserine Moxifloxacin Article protionamide Retrospective Studies streptomycin drug sensitivity major clinical study adult Clofazimine isoniazid age Amikacin antibiotic sensitivity Linezolid rifabutin microbial sensitivity test ethambutol retrospective study Microbial Sensitivity Tests rifampicin levofloxacin employment pyrazinamide Medication Adherence
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85016190070&doi=10.3349%2fymj.2017.58.3.592&partnerID=40&md5=2851709470d393655d675d8349e5402d
DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2017.58.3.592
ISSN: 05135796
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English