Experiences of latent tuberculosis infection treatment for the North Korean refugees
- Authors
- Kim B.K.; Kim H.J.; Kim H.J.; Cha J.H.; Lee J.B.; Jeon J.; Kim C.Y.; Kim Y.; Kim J.H.; Shin C.; Lee S.H.
- Issue Date
- Oct-2019
- Publisher
- Korean National Tuberculosis Association
- Keywords
- Asian continental ancestry group; Interferon-gamma release tests; Latent tuberculosis infection; Refugees; Therapeutics; Tuberculin test
- Citation
- Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, v.82, no.4, pp 306 - 310
- Pages
- 5
- Indexed
- SCOPUS
ESCI
KCI
- Journal Title
- Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
- Volume
- 82
- Number
- 4
- Start Page
- 306
- End Page
- 310
- URI
- https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2020.sw.kumedicine/2734
- DOI
- 10.4046/trd.2019.0034
- ISSN
- 1738-3536
2005-6184
- Abstract
- Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is increasing in immigrants. We aimed to investigate the current status of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment for North Korean Refugees (NKR) compared to South Koreans Contacts (SKC). Methods: TB close contacts in a closed facility of SKC and NKR who underwent LTBI screening in a settlement support center for NKR were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among tuberculin skin test (TST) ≥10 mm (n=298) reactors, the males accounted for 72.2% in SKC (n=126) and 19.5% in NKR (n=172) (p<0.01). The mean age was higher in South Korea (42.8±9.9 years vs. 35.4±10.0 years, p<0.01). Additionally, the mean TST size was significantly bigger in NKR (17.39±3.9 mm vs. 16.57±4.2 mm, p=0.03). The LTBI treatments were initiated for all screened NKR, and LTBI completion rate was only 68.0%. However, in NKR, LTBI treatment completion rate was significantly increased by shorter 4R regimen (odds ratio [OR], 9.296; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.159–20.774; p<0.01) and male (OR, 3.447; 95% CI, 1.191–9.974; p=0.02). Conclusion: LTBI treatment compliance must be improved in NKR with a shorter regimen. In addition, a larger study regarding a focus on LTBI with easy access to related data for NKR should be conducted. Copyright © 2019 The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases.
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- Appears in
Collections - 2. Clinical Science > Department of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine > 1. Journal Articles
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