Disparities in TB Incidence by Race & Ethnicity Among the U.S.-Born Population in the U.S., 2011 to 2021
2024
This study aims to assess trends in racial/ethnic disparities in tuberculosis (TB) incidence among U.S.-born individuals from 2011 to 2021. Using national TB registry data, time-series analysis was conducted, stratifying by race/ethnicity and adjusting for age, year, and state of residence. Results indicate persistent disparities, with incidence rate ratios as high as 14.2 for American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) females compared to non-Hispanic White individuals. Relative disparities were more pronounced for females, younger individuals, and TB attributed to recent transmission, while absolute disparities were greater for males. Excess TB cases represented a significant portion of total cases, with no evidence of decreasing incidence rate ratios over time. The study underscores the importance of addressing these disparities to potentially reduce overall TB incidence among the U.S.-born population. Limitations include assumptions regarding TB case diagnosis and self-reported race/ethnicity, and lack of adjustment for medical comorbidities or social determinants of health.
Source:
Li Y, Regan M, Swartwood NA, Barham T, Beeler Asay GR, Cohen T, Hill AN, Horsburgh CR Jr., Khan A, Marks SM, Myles RL, Salomon JA, Self JL, Menzies NA. Disparities in Tuberculosis Incidence by Race and Ethnicity Among the U.S.-Born Population in the United States, 2011 to 2021: An Analysis of National Disease Registry Data. Annals of Internal Medicine 2024. https://doi.org/10.7326/M23-2975
Not open access.