Abstract
The proportion of foreign-born people among the newly notified tuberculosis (TB) patients has been increasing in recent years and potentially poses a new challenge to TB control in Japan. In this report, we analysed the data from the Japan TB surveillance system between 2007 and 2014 to gain an overview of the trends and characteristics of foreign-born TB patients in Japan.We found that the proportion of foreign-born TB patients was especially high among the younger age groups – 44.1% among the 20–29 years age group in 2014. The largest groups of foreign-born patients were from China and the Philippines; however, the number of those from Nepal and Viet Nam was on the rise. Students comprised the second largest professional category group for TB after regular workers, and its proportion increased over the study period. Compared to Japan-born TB patients, foreign-born patients were more likely to be diagnosed through routine medical check-ups. Treatment successes and patients still on treatment were significantly lower among foreign-born patients than their Japan-born counterparts; and transferred-out and unknown outcomes were higher. Our results indicated that distinctive subgroups within the foreign-born population in Japan, especially students and regular workers, might have a higher risk of developing TB. Measures to ensure early diagnosis and treatment adherence should be adapted to such populations.
Highlights
Background Note to the ECDCReport on Migration and Infectious Diseases in the EU
Ethical clearance was not required as the Japan Tuberculosis Surveillance (JTBS) data do not include case identifiers, as according to the Ethical Guidelines for Epidemiological Research established by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan
Individual medical check-up Routine medical check-up Contact investigation Other mass medical check-up Visit to medical institution/while being hospitalized for other illness Medical check-up during TB follow-up Others Unknown Total
Summary
Background Note to the ECDCReport on Migration and Infectious Diseases in the EU. Stockholm, European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, 2009 (http:// ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/0907_TER_Migrant_ health_Background_note.pdf, accessed 26 May 2016).3. Report on Migration and Infectious Diseases in the EU. European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, 2009 (http:// ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/0907_TER_Migrant_ health_Background_note.pdf, accessed 26 May 2016). The Tuberculosis Surveillance Center, 2016 (http:// www.jata.or.jp/rit/ekigaku/en/annual-reports/, accessed 26 May 2016). Tuberculosis in foreign students in Japan, 2010–2014: a comparison with the notification rates in their countries of origin. Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal, 2016, 7(2).
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