International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Volume 2, Issue 3, 1998, Pages 219-224

Tuberculosis in a cohort of Vietnamese refugees after arrival in Denmark 1979-1982 (Article)

Wilcke J.T.R.* , Poulsen S. , Askgaard D.S. , Enevoldsen H.K. , Rønne T. , Kok-Jensen A.
  • a Department of Respiratory Medicine I, Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark
  • b Epidemiological Department, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • c Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • d Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • e Epidemiological Department, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • f Department of Respiratory Medicine, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

Abstract

SETTING: Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. OBJECTIVE: To study the occurrence of tuberculosis (TB) in a cohort of immigrants from a high incidence country during the years following arrival in a low incidence country. DESIGN: Follow-up analysis in a cohort of 1 983 Vietnamese refugees who arrived in Denmark during the period 1979- 1982. The civil registration number could be identified for 1 936 (98%) individuals from the original cohort. Date of possible death, emigration and the development of tuberculosis were determined by checking the refugees' civil registration number in the National Civil Register and the National Infectious Disease Registry for Tuberculosis. RESULTS: Tuberculosis notification for the 1 936 individuals fell from 1.14% for the first 12 months to a mean of 0.08% per year during the following 5-year period. During the 16 years of follow up, 36 of the refugees developed tuberculosis, of whom 14 (39%) had had abnormal chest X-ray on arrival and 14 (39%) (including one with normal chest X-ray) had been identified as having active tuberculosis through screening on arrival. CONCLUSION: Decline in tuberculosis incidence for immigrants is very rapid if the tuberculosis infection rate is low following arrival. With a very limited TB screening programme (chest X-ray on arrival) and a passive diagnosis policy without preventive chemotherapy, it is possible to control tuberculosis among high prevalence immigrants in a low incidence country.

Author Keywords

Screening immigrants tuberculosis Refugees Incidence

Index Keywords

Vietnam immigrant refugee Registries mass screening Follow-Up Studies follow up human infection rate Refugees Denmark controlled study priority journal Mycobacterium tuberculosis Humans male Tuberculosis, Pulmonary female Viet Nam tuberculosis Article Disease Notification major clinical study adult isoniazid thorax radiography tuberculosis control cohort analysis Emigration and Immigration Radiography, Thoracic Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0031914342&partnerID=40&md5=704b1b358f892b93f7fc748327476e09
ISSN: 10273719
Cited by: 37
Original Language: English