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Regan M, Li Y, Swartwood NA, Barham T, Asay GRB, Cohen T, Hill AN, Horsburgh CR, Khan A, Marks SM, Myles RL, Salomon JA, Self JL, Menzies NA. Racial and ethnic disparities in diagnosis and treatment outcomes among US-born people diagnosed with tuberculosis, 2003-19: an analysis of national surveillance data. Lancet Public Health 2024; 9:e47-e56. [PMID: 38176842 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(23)00276-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent racial and ethnic disparities in tuberculosis incidence exist in the USA, however, less is known about disparities along the tuberculosis continuum of care. This study aimed to describe how race and ethnicity are associated with tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment outcomes. METHODS In this analysis of national surveillance data, we extracted data from the US National Tuberculosis Surveillance System on US-born patients with tuberculosis during 2003-19. To estimate the association between race and ethnicity and tuberculosis diagnosis (diagnosis after death, cavitation, and sputum smear positivity) and treatment outcomes (treatment for more than 12 months, treatment discontinuation, and death during treatment), we fitted log-binomial regression models adjusting for calendar year, sex, age category, and regional division. Race and ethnicity were defined based on US Census Bureau classification as White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and people of other ethnicities. We quantified racial and ethnic disparities as adjusted relative risks (aRRs) using non-Hispanic White people as the reference group. We also calculated the Index of Disparity as a summary measure that quantifies the dispersion in a given outcome across all racial and ethnic groups, relative to the population mean. We estimated time trends in each outcome to evaluate whether disparities were closing or widening. FINDINGS From 2003 to 2019, there were 72 809 US-born individuals diagnosed with tuberculosis disease of whom 72 369 (35·7% women and 64·3% men) could be included in analyses. We observed an overall higher risk of any adverse outcome (defined as diagnosis after death, treatment discontinuation, or death during treatment) for non-Hispanic Black people (aRR 1·27, 95% CI 1·22-1·32), Hispanic people (1·20, 1·14-1·27), and American Indian or Alaska Native people (1·24, 1·12-1·37), relative to non-Hispanic White people. The Index of Disparity for this summary outcome remained unchanged over the study period. INTERPRETATION This study, based on national surveillance data, indicates racial and ethnic disparaties among US-born tuberculosis patients along the tuberculosis continuum of care. Initiatives are needed to reduce diagnostic delays and improve treatment outcomes for US-born racially marginalised people in the USA. FUNDING US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilda Regan
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Yunfei Li
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole A Swartwood
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Terrika Barham
- Office of Health Equity, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GE, USA
| | - Garrett R Beeler Asay
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GE, USA
| | - Ted Cohen
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Andrew N Hill
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GE, USA
| | - C Robert Horsburgh
- Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Global Health, and Medicine, Boston University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Awal Khan
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GE, USA
| | - Suzanne M Marks
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GE, USA
| | - Ranell L Myles
- Office of Health Equity, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GE, USA
| | - Joshua A Salomon
- Department of Health Policy, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Julie L Self
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GE, USA
| | - Nicolas A Menzies
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Marks SM, Self JL, Venkatappa T, Wolff MB, Hopkins PB, Augustine RJ, Khan A, Schwartz NG, Schmit KM, Morris SB. Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Tuberculosis Among People Experiencing Homelessness in the United States: Current Recommendations. Public Health Rep 2023; 138:896-907. [PMID: 36703605 PMCID: PMC10576477 DOI: 10.1177/00333549221148173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Tuberculosis (TB) is a public health problem, especially among people experiencing homelessness (PEH). The Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis issued recommendations in 1992 for TB prevention and control among PEH. Our goal was to provide current guidelines and information in one place to inform medical and public health providers and TB programs on TB incidence, diagnosis, and treatment among PEH. METHODS We reviewed and synthesized diagnostic and treatment recommendations for TB disease and latent TB infection (LTBI) as of 2022 and information after 1992 on the magnitude of homelessness in the United States, the incidence of TB among PEH, the role of public health departments in TB case management among PEH, and recently published evidence. RESULTS In 2018, there were 1.45 million estimated PEH in the United States. During the past 2 decades, the incidence of TB was >10 times higher and the prevalence of LTBI was 7 to 20 times higher among PEH than among people not experiencing homelessness. TB outbreaks were common in overnight shelters. Permanent housing for PEH and the use of rapid TB diagnostic tests, along with isolation and treatment, reduced TB exposure among PEH. The use of direct observation enhanced treatment adherence among PEH, as did involvement of social workers to help secure shelter, food, safety, and treatment for comorbidities, especially HIV and substance use disorders. Testing and treatment for LTBI prevented progression to TB disease, and shorter LTBI regimens helped improve adherence. Federal agencies and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council have helpful resources. CONCLUSION Improvements in TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention among PEH are possible by following existing recommendations and using client-centered approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M. Marks
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Julie L. Self
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thara Venkatappa
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Marilyn B. Wolff
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Peri B. Hopkins
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ryan J. Augustine
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Awal Khan
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Noah G. Schwartz
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kristine M. Schmit
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sapna Bamrah Morris
- Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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