Tuberculosis mortality trends in Taiwan: a resurgence of non-respiratory tuberculosis.
METHODS
Population-based study in Taiwan.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the tuberculosis (TB) mortality trends in Taiwan by site and age.


METHODS
Mortality data for the years 1972 to 2001 were used to calculate the age/site-specific mortality rate (deaths per 100000 population). The year of change in the slope of mortality trends was estimated by iterative piecewise regression analysis.


RESULTS
A levelling off in mortality trends was noted in the late 1980s for all age groups except those aged 75 and above. Except in the age group 25-44 years, the trends in respiratory TB mortality showed a smooth decline. However, for non-respiratory TB mortality, a reversal of the decline was noted for all age groups since 1994-1995. A twofold increase in the number of deaths from central nervous system (CNS) and 'other' TB was noted. A marked increase in the number of deaths from old TB was noted since 1992-1996.


CONCLUSIONS
TB mortality trends in Taiwan have not declined as expected over the past decade. The slowing down of the decline in TB mortality was mainly attributable to a levelling off of respiratory TB mortality in the age group 25-44 and a reversal of non-respiratory TB mortality trends, especially in the 25-44 and > or =65 years age groups.
Lu
T H
TH
Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Huang
R M
RM
Chang
T D
TD
Tsao
S M
SM
Wu
T C
TC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000401:mortality*