Pulmonary tuberculosis and non-recent immigrants in Japan – some issues for post-entry interventions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2017.8.3.003Abstract
Foreign-born persons are considered one of the high-risk populations for tuberculosis (TB), and numerous studies have discussed the potential role of pre-entry TB screening for immigrants. However, rates of TB disease among immigrants can remain high several years after entry. In Japan, approximately 50% of TB among foreign-born persons occurs among those who have entered Japan more than five years before being diagnosed, i.e. non-recent immigrants. However, little attention has been paid so far to the issue of TB control among the non-recent immigrants. A detailed analysis of the Japan Tuberculosis Surveillance data was therefore conducted to describe the characteristics of TB among non-recent immigrants and discuss policy implications in terms of post-entry interventions in Japan. The main findings were as follows: 1) the proportion of pulmonary TB cases aged 65 years and older was higher among non-recent than recent immigrants (9.8% vs 1.2%); 2) the proportion of those with social risk factors including homelessness and and being on social welfare assistance was higher among non-recent than recent immigrants; and 3) the proportion of those detected via routine screening at school or workplace was significantly lower among non-recent immigrants aged between 25 and 64 than among recent immigrants in the same age group (15.4% vs 28.7%). Our results suggested the need to increase the opportunities for and simultaneously improve the take-up rate of community-based screening for non-recent immigrants.
References
Aldridge R, Yates T, Zenner D, White P, Abubaker I, Hayward A. Pre-entry screening programmes for tuberculosis in migrant to low-incidence countries; a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2014; 14: 1240-49.
Klinkenberg E, Manissero D, Semenza C, Verver S. Migrant tuberculosis screening in the EU/EEA: yield, coverage and limitations. European Respiratory Journal. 2009; 34: 1180-89.
Tuberculosis in England 2016 report. London, Tuberculosis Section, Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, National Infection Service, Public Health England, 2016. (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/581238/TB_Annual_Report_2016_GTW2309_errata_v1.2.pdf, accessed 2016 Aug 8).
Toms C, Stapledon R, Waring J, Douglas P. Tuberculosis notifications in Australia, 2012 and 2013. Communicable Diseases Intelligence. 2014; 38: E356-E368
Kik S, Mensen M, Beltman M, Verver S. Risk of travelling to the country of origin for tuberculosis among immigrants living in a low-incidence country. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 2011; 15: 38-43.
Ormerod L, Green R, Gray S. Are there still effects on Indian subcontinent ethnic tuberculosis of return visits? A longitudinal study 1978-97. Journal of Infection. 2001; 43: 132-34
Kawatsu L, Uchimura K, Izumi K, Ohkado A, Ishiakwa N. Profile of tuberculosis among the foreign-born population in Japan, 2007–2014. Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal. 2016; 7:7-16.
Tuberculosis in Japan – annual report 2016. Tokyo, Tuberculosis Surveillance Center, Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, the Research Institute of Tuberculosis. (http://www.jata.or.jp/rit/ekigaku/index.php/download_file/-/view/3804/, accessed 2016 Aug 8).
Lee K, Lee S, Nakamura Y. Zainichi Korean no jinko koreika to shibou no doukou (Aging and mortality trend among zainichi Koreans in Japan) Journal of Health and Welfare Statistics. 2012; 59: 27-32. (in Japanese)
Yan S. A socio-medical study of adult diseases related life-style – comparison of Japan and Foreign-born immigrants in Japan. Japan Journal of Public Health. 1990; 37: 603-609. (in Japanese)
Kawamura C, Kondo A, Nakamoto H. (eds) Imin seisaku e no approach (Approach to immigration in Japan). Tokyo: Akashi shoten: 2009
Watt J, Squire B. A systematic review of risk factors for death in adults during and after tuberculosis treatment. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 2001;15: 871-885.
Morimoto Y, Tomita S, Takayanagi K, Sawada T, Ma O, Shiota D, et al. Activities to improve access to annual health checkups for foreign residents of Shinjuku, who are linguistic minorities. Journal of Japan Association for International Health. 2016; 31: 241.
Kuroyanagi Y, Mizuguchi M, Shibasaki A, Uchisaka Y, Matsumura T, Tashiro M. Health status of foreign attendants at the medical check-ups for foreigners in Nagano and the shape of medical check-ups in the future – analysis of the results of the medical check-ups for foreigners sponsored by NGO. Bulletin of Nagano College of Nursing. 2008; 10: 101-112.
Statistics of TB 2016. Tokyo, Japan Anti-tuberculosis Association, 2016.
Tuberculosis Surveillance Center. Tuberculosis Annual Report, 2009 – Series 5. Case Findings–.Kekkaku. 2011. 86: 787-791. (in Japanese)
