Aims: To describe the epidemiology of tuberculosis and analyzing the differences among native and immigrant patients in Area. III of the Region of Murcia. Methods: Cohort study of tuberculosis cases reported to the Epidemiological Surveillance Service from 2004 to 2009. Data collection was performed through the System of Notification Diseases, reviewing clinical files and epidemiological surveys. Results: One hundred sixty two cases were detected; 110 (67.9%) were immigrants, whose incidence rates ranged from 43.4 to 101.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Ecuador (42.7%), Bolivia (30%) and Morocco (18.2%) were the main nationalities. Immigrants were younger than Spanish population (P< .001). The overall diagnostic delay was 50.5. days: 59.5 in Spanish and 47 in foreigners. Moroccans had higher proportions of extrapulmonary TB (P= .02). Mainly, immigrant population took treatment with four drugs (P< .001). Natives had better treatment adherence (P= .04). Spanish cases tuberculosis were associated with smoking (P< .001), the same as alcohol consumption (P= .01) and injection drug use (P< .001), nevertheless in the foreign-born population the most relevant risk factor was overcrowding (P< .001). Conclusions: The incidence tuberculosis rates are higher among immigrant population, whose the main risk factor is overcrowding. In contrast, Spanish cases are associated with toxic substances consumption and increasing age. © 2013 SEPAR.

Incidence Immigration tuberculosis Epidemiology

Nigeria treatment response urban area extrapulmonary tuberculosis immigrant Ecuador Alcohol Drinking drinking behavior alcohol consumption Europe indigenous people Population Surveillance human delayed diagnosis middle aged statistics and numerical data controlled study Aged substance abuse medication compliance ethnology Young Adult Humans migrant ethnic difference smoking tuberculostatic agent Antitubercular Agents Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female South America tuberculosis risk factor Risk Factors Spain Incidence suburban population Article combination drug therapy Retrospective Studies Drug Therapy, Combination Substance Abuse, Intravenous major clinical study adult migration age Age Factors age distribution cohort analysis retrospective study crowding (area) disease association Bolivia Crowding intravenous drug abuse Medication Adherence Morocco health survey