Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 5 , Pages 389-395, May 2008

Tuberculosis Among Foreign-born Persons in Taiwan, 2002–2005

  • Kuan-Jen Bai

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chen-Yuan Chiang

      Affiliations

    • International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chun-Nin Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Jer-Hwa Chang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Li-Chun Wu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ming-Chih Yu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Ming-Chih Yu, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Wan Fang Hospital, 111 Hsin-Long Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan

Received 30 October 2007; received in revised form 17 January 2008; accepted 12 February 2008.

Background/Purpose

The foreign-born population has been growing in Taiwan. Most foreign-born persons come from countries with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB). Monitoring the trend and characteristics of TB in this population is essential for TB control in Taiwan.

Methods

Information about foreign-born persons residing in Taiwan and data of all foreign-born TB cases notified during 2002–2005 were obtained from the national authorities and analyzed.

Results

A total of 2444 foreign-born TB cases were notified during 2002–2005, which accounted for 3.6% of all notified TB cases during that period in Taiwan. The proportion of foreign-born TB cases was constant, without any significant yearly variation. The average annual TB notification rate in the foreign-born population was higher than that in the Taiwan-born population (94.0/100,000 vs. 72.0/100,000). There were significant differences in age, sex and regional distribution between foreign-born and Taiwan-born TB cases (p < 0.001). Foreign-born cases were predominantly female (65.4%) and aged 25-44 years (70.9%), whereas the majority of cases among the Taiwan-born population were male (69.4%) and aged 3 65 years (49.6%). Most foreign-born TB patients (62.7%) lived in northern Taiwan but only about one-third (36.1%) of Taiwan-born TB cases were notified from that region. Among foreign-born TB cases whose original countries were recorded, the majority came from Mainland China and Vietnam, which accounted for 73.0% of all cases, followed by the Philippines (7.4%), Thailand (7.3%) and Indonesia (6.0%).

Conclusion

Foreign-born TB patients have different profiles and a higher case rate compared to Taiwanborn patients. Monitoring the epidemiologic trend of TB among foreign-born persons, especially those who come from high TB-burden countries, is essential in the fight against TB in Taiwan.

Key Words:  foreign-born , Taiwan , tuberculosis

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PII: S0929-6646(08)60104-7

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60104-7

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 5 , Pages 389-395, May 2008

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