Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jan 2024)

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Tuberculosis Incidence, Arkansas, USA, 2010–2021

  • Maheen Humayun,
  • Leonard Mukasa,
  • Wen Ye,
  • Joseph H. Bates,
  • Zhenhua Yang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3001.230778
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 30, no. 1
pp. 116 – 124

Abstract

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We conducted an epidemiologic assessment of disease distribution by race/ethnicity to identify subpopulation-specific drivers of tuberculosis (TB). We used detailed racial/ethnic categorizations for the 932 TB cases diagnosed in Arkansas, USA, during 2010–2021. After adjusting for age and sex, racial/ethnic disparities persisted; the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI) group had the highest risk for TB (risk ratio 173.6, 95% CI 140.6–214.2) compared with the non-Hispanic White group, followed by Asian, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Black. Notable racial/ethnic disparities existed across all age groups; NHPI persons 0–14 years of age were at a particularly increased risk for TB (risk ratio 888, 95% CI 403–1,962). The risks for sputum smear–positive pulmonary TB and extrapulmonary TB were both significantly higher for racial/ethnic minority groups. Our findings suggest that TB control in Arkansas can benefit from a targeted focus on subpopulations at increased risk for TB.

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