Epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, 2011−2020

  Objective  To understand the epidemiologic characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in the elderly aged ≥ 60 years in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, and provide evidence for the further improvement of pulmonary TB prevention and control in the elderly.

  Methods  Based on the Tuberculosis Management Information System, the information of pulmonary TB cases in Jiaxing from 2011 to 2020 were collected for a descriptive epidemiological analysis on the distribution, detection way and diagnosis delay of pulmonary TB in the elderly in Jiaxing during 2011−2020.

  Results  The average annual registration rate of pulmonary TB in the elderly (≥60 years old) in Jiaxing was 58.20/100 000, which was 1.75 times higher than that in those aged ＜60 years (33.30/100 000) (χ²=1108.686, P＜0.05). The average annual registration rate of pulmonary TB with positive etiology in the elderly was 36.98/100 000, which was 2.58 times higher than that in those aged ＜60 years (14.33/100 000) (χ²=1885.435, P＜0.05). The registration rates of pulmonary TB in men and women were 91.52/100 000 and 27.37/100 000, respectively, the rate was 3.34 times in men than in women (χ²=1448.531, P＜0.05). The registered cases aged 60–64 accounted for the highest proportion (20.84%) and annual pulmonary TB registration rate of patients aged 80–84 was highest (87.18/100 000)（χ²=542.467, P＜0.05）. The proportion of retreated patients aged ≥60 years (9.28%) was 1.68 times higher than that of retreated patients aged ＜60 years (5.54%) (χ²=79.176, P＜0.05). The proportion of diagnosis delay in age group ≥60 years (43.74%) was also higher than that in age group ＜60 years (39.14%), the difference was significant (χ²=30.424, P＜0.05).

  Conclusion  Although the registration rate of pulmonary TB in the elderly in Jiaxing showed a decreasing trend, the proportion of pulmonary TB cases with positive etiology was high, posing a serious challenge to the prevention and control efforts. It is important to strengthen the pulmonary TB prevention and control, reduce diagnosis delay and improve case finding in the elderly