Tuberculosis in Norway by country of birth, 1986-1999.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the standardised incidence ratio (SIR) of TB among the foreign-born in Norway.


METHODS
The expected number of TB cases was calculated by applying the sex- and age-specific incidence rates for those born in Norway to the corresponding foreign-born population. The SIR was measured as the ratio between observed and expected number of cases.


RESULTS
The expected number of TB cases was between zero and three for all selected countries; the observed number of cases was significantly higher. The SIR was highest for Africa (160, 95%CI 144-175) and lowest for USA/Canada (0.4, 95%CI 0.1-1.0). It was 883 for Somalia (95%CI 775-991), 122 for Vietnam (95%CI 106-139), 119 for Pakistan (95%CI 105-134), 115 for the Philippines (95%CI 91-144) and 49 for former Yugoslavia (95%CI 40-57). The SIR for all the foreign-born was 21 (95%CI 20-22), giving a population attributable risk of 38%. It was highest in the age group 15-39 years (95, 95%CI 89-101), and lowest for those 65 years and older (3, 95%CI 2.1-3.3). The SIR for extrapulmonary TB was also high in those aged 15-39 years (159, 95%CI 146-173).


CONCLUSIONS
SIRs for TB differ by country and continent of birth. Understanding local epidemiology and immigration patterns will help better target prevention efforts.
Farah
M G
MG
Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. m.g.farah@samfunnsmed.uio.no
Tverdal
A
A
Selmer
R
R
Heldal
E
E
Bjune
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology