[Antituberculosis treatment default among the immigrant population: mobility and lack of family support].
OBJECTIVE
To identify antituberculosis treatment outcomes among the immigrant population and determine the variables associated with treatment default.


METHODS
We performed a prospective cohort study that included cases of tuberculosis in immigrants older than 15 years diagnosed in 15 public hospitals of the Community of Madrid in 2003. Firstly, a descriptive study was performed. Subsequently, a bivariate/multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regressions. The dependent variable was treatment default vs successful treatment.


RESULTS
Of 296 cases, 75.0% successfully completed the treatment, 8.4% defaulted, 2% died, 0.7% showed treatment failure, and 7.1% transferred out; information loss occurred in 6.8%. The variables independently associated with treatment default were female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 0.18; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.03-0.95), living with relatives (0.23 [0.08-0.66]) and moving to another autonomous community (5.52 [1.17-25.93]) compared with not moving.


CONCLUSIONS
Antituberculosis treatment outcomes in the immigrant population need to be improved. To achieve this aim, healthcare coordination should be improved in the mobile population and strategies to increase treatment compliance among persons not living with relatives are required.
Sanz Barbero
Belén
B
Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, España. bsanz@isciii.es
Blasco Hernández
Teresa
T
Galindo Carretero
Silvia
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D000995:Antitubercular Agents