Background/Aim: Treatment of latently infected individuals at increased risk of reactivation is a cornerstone in tuberculosis control. Although asylum seekers without residence permit in Sweden are offered screening for both active tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), treatment for LTBI is often not initiated due to anticipated low rates of treatment completion. We aimed to compare completion rates for LTBI treatment between asylum seekers and other patients, and between asylum seekers with and without residence permit. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from tuberculosis clinic registers and medical records. For comparison of treatment completion rates, relative risks (RR) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Predictors of completion were assessed by logistic regression multivariate analysis. Results: Treatment completion was achieved in 506/606 subjects (83%). RR of non-completion for asylum seekers (n = 297) compared to other subjects (n = 309) was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.79–1.61; p =.51), and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.53–1.56; p =.72) for asylum seekers without residence permit (n = 217) compared to asylum seekers with residence permit (n = 80). Completion rates increased from 53% in 2008 to 92% in 2015–2016. The following factors were associated with completion: scheduled interpreter-assisted appointments throughout the course of therapy, shorter treatment duration (6 vs. 9 months), and being treated in connection with immunosuppressive therapy. Conclusion: Treatment completion rates were similar between asylum seekers and other subjects, supporting initiation of latent tuberculosis treatment in immigrants with recent arrival to low-endemic countries. © 2018, © 2018 Society for Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Europe Tuberculosis prevention Low-burden settings Migrant health Latent tuberculosis infection

immigrant refugee mass screening demography multivariate logistic regression analysis university hospital human Refugees statistics and numerical data controlled study comparative study short course therapy Confidence interval Young Adult asylum seeker school child migrant Sweden Humans Adolescent residence permit Infant, Newborn male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child female Infant risk factor Child, Preschool newborn treatment completion disease registry latent tuberculosis scheduled interpreter assisted appointment prediction unclassified drug univariate analysis Multivariate Analysis medical record immunosuppressive agent Article Retrospective Studies major clinical study adult immunosuppressive treatment health care quality treatment duration Hospitals, University tumor necrosis factor gamma inhibitor retrospective study tuberculostatic agent Antitubercular Agents Child