Revista Clinica Espanola
Volume 214, Issue 8, 2014, Pages 445-452

Clinical characteristics of tuberculosis in immigrants and autochthonous populations, in 2 hospitals of Catalonia [Características clínicas de la tuberculosis incidente en inmigrantes y autóctonos, en 2 hospitales de Cataluña (2000-2011)] (Article)

Ballesteros A.L.* , Oriol J. , Francisco I. , Fernández S. , García Bragado F. , Vinyes A.
  • a Medicina Interna, Departamento Medicina, Badalona Serveis Assistencials-Hospital Municipal de Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
  • b Neumología, Departamento Medicina, Badalona Serveis Assistencials-Hospital Municipal de Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
  • c Departamento Medicina Interna, Hospital Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain
  • d Neumología, Departamento Medicina, Badalona Serveis Assistencials-Hospital Municipal de Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
  • e Departamento Medicina Interna, Hospital Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain
  • f Departamento Medicina Interna, Hospital Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain

Abstract

Background and objectives: Tuberculosis is a difficult-to-control endemic, and its incidence rate in Spain is greater than that of neighboring countries. In recent years, this has been due to an increased number of foreigners infected with the disease. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of this disease between immigrant and native populations in the last decade. Patients and method: Observational, retrospective (2000-2011) multicenter study in 2 urban areas of Catalonia comparing the clinical presentation (risk factors, location and infectivity), the diagnostic delay and the completion of tuberculosis treatment between immigrants and natives. Results: A total of 503 patients (181 immigrants and 322 Spaniards) were included. The immigrants were younger (mean age of 31 versus 46 years; P<.001), and 70.8% had lived in Spain for less than 5 years. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common clinical presentation (61.4%), with similar frequencies in immigrants and natives. Only osteoarticular involvement was significantly more common in immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa. The median diagnostic delay was 32 days, with no differences compared with the Spanish population. Proper adherence to the tuberculostatic treatment tended to be lower for immigrants (84.3% vs. 88.3%, P=.051). Treatment dropout was more common in immigrants (8 dropouts, P<.001). Conclusion: The main clinical characteristics and the diagnostic and therapeutic handling of immigrant patients with tuberculosis included in this study were similar to those of the native population. © 2014 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Therapeutic tuberculosis Diagnosis Prognosis Epidemiology

Index Keywords

Spain urban area major clinical study tuberculosis tuberculous arthritis immigrant Africa south of the Sahara observational study retrospective study Article clinical feature patient compliance human delayed diagnosis infection risk antibiotic therapy lung tuberculosis tuberculostatic agent
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85028199974&doi=10.1016%2fj.rce.2014.07.007&partnerID=40&md5=68332e836cafc1fff548e7d57dda0322
DOI: 10.1016/j.rce.2014.07.007
ISSN: 00142565
Original Language: Spanish