Tuberculosis Comorbidity with Non-Communicable Diseases: Prevalence and Duration of Treatment, Taiwan, 2013–2014

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.201803_34(6).0001

Cheng-Yi Lee1, Shiang-Lin Yang2, Wan-Jen Wu1, Ding-Ping Liu1*

2018 Vol.34 NO.6

Correspondence Author: Ding-Ping Liu1*

  • 1Epidemic Intelligence Center, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
  • 2Division of Chronic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan

Abstract:

To explore the prevalence and duration of treatment among tuberculosis (TB) comorbidity with non-communicable diseases, we analyzed new incident cases in year of 2013 to 2014. A total of 19,554 subjects were included in the analysis. Male cases predominated (69.5%), with 49.6% aged ≥65 years. We reviewed the medical records of these subjects in national health insurance claim database to identify if they had selected eight chronic diseases resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Among all cases, 55.9% (66.8% among aged ≥65; 45.2% among aged <65 years) had ≥1 comorbidity. The most prevalent comorbidities among TB cases were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (17.4%), followed by diabetes mellitus (14.3%), and hypertension (12.4%). As for duration of treatment, except for the death cases, TB cases aged <65 years without comorbidity received treatment for 194 days on average, and ≥65 year-old for 203 days. Among TB cases with ≥1 comorbidity, those who aged <65 years received treatment for 271 days on average, and ≥65 year-old for 230 days. In conclusion, in order to manage the impacts of transitional aging population, strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration and integrated strategies are essential for better healthcare outcomes