Premium
Trends in Tuberculosis Cases Among Nursing Home Residents, California, 2000 to 2009
Author(s) -
Chitnis Amit S.,
Robsky Katherine,
Schecter Gisela F.,
Westenhouse Janice,
Barry Pennan M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.13437
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , confidence interval , tuberculosis , poisson regression , odds ratio , logistic regression , population , demography , environmental health , pathology , physics , sociology , optics
Objectives To examine trends in tuberculosis ( TB ) incidence and to compare demographic and clinical characteristics of nursing home ( NH ) residents and community‐dwelling older adults. Design Prospective TB surveillance. Setting TB cases reported in California from 2000 to 2009. Participants TB patients aged 65 and older. Measurements Trends in TB incidence per 100,000 population were assessed using Poisson regression. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared using the chi‐square or Wilcoxon rank‐sum test. Among NH residents, risk factors for death during TB treatment were identified using logistic regression. Results From 2000 to 2009, TB incidence rates decreased significantly, from 15.9/100,000 to 8.4/100,000 (−44%, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) = −66% to −7%) for NH residents and from 21.2/100,000 to 15.0/100,000 (−27%, 95% CI = −29% to −24%) for community‐dwelling older adults. Overall, 211 TB cases among NH residents and 6,518 cases among community‐dwelling older adults were reported. NH residents were more likely than community‐dwelling older adults to be older (median age 81 vs 75, P < .001), have a negative acid‐fast bacilli sputum smear and positive culture (37% vs 28%, P < .001), and die while undergoing TB treatment (44% vs 14%, P < .001), and were less likely to have a positive tuberculin skin test ( TST ) (28% vs 44%, P < .001) and have TB care provided by a health department (20% vs 59%, P < .001). In multivariable analysis, NH residents who had a positive TST were less likely to die while undergoing TB treatment (odds ratio = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.16–0.96). Conclusion TB incidence rates were lower, and reductions in incidence were greater among NH residents; community‐dwelling older adults had higher TB rates and smaller reductions in incidence. Interventions that promote timely detection and treatment of TB infection and disease may be needed to reduce morbidity and mortality among NH residents.