Long-term risk of tuberculosis among migrants according to migrant status: a cohort study.
BACKGROUND
The majority of tuberculosis (TB) cases in low-incidence countries occur in migrants. Only few studies have assessed the long-term TB risk in migrants after immigration, and datasets have not considered this across a range of diverse migrant groups. This nationwide study aimed to investigate long-term TB risk among migrants according to migrant status and region of origin.


METHODS
This cohort study included all migrants aged  ≥ 18 years who obtained residence in Denmark from 1993 to 2015, with a mean follow-up of 10.8 years [standard deviation (SD) 7.3]. Migrants were categorized based on legal status of residence and region of origin. Incidence rates (IR) and rate ratios (IRR) were estimated by Poisson regression.


RESULTS
A total of 142 314 migrants were included. Across all migrants, the TB risk was highest during year 1 of residence (IR 275/100 000 person-years; 95% CI 249-305) followed by a gradual decline, though TB risk remained high for over a decade. Compared with the Danish-born population, the IRRs after 7-8 years were particularly higher among former asylum seekers (IRR 31; 95% CI 20-46), quota refugees (IRR 31; 95% CI 16-71), and family-reunified with refugees (IRR 22; 95% CI 12-44). Sub-Saharan African migrants also experienced elevated risk (IRR 75; 95% CI 51-109). The proportion of migrants with pulmonary TB was 52.4%.


CONCLUSION
All migrant groups experienced an initial high TB risk, but long-term risk remained high in key migrant groups. Most European countries focus TB screening on or soon after arrival. Our study suggests that approaches to TB screening should be adapted, with migrant populations benefiting from long-term access to preventive health services.
['Kristensen|Kristina Langholz|KL|', 'Ravn|Pernille|P|', 'Petersen|Joergen Holm|JH|', 'Hargreaves|Sally|S|', 'Nellums|Laura B|LB|', 'Friedland|Jon S|JS|', 'Andersen|Peter Henrik|PH|', 'Norredam|Marie|M|', 'Lillebaek|Troels|T|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D015331:Cohort Studies D003718:Denmark D006801:Humans D012036:Refugees D018570:Risk Assessment D013997:Time Factors D014171:Transients and Migrants D014376:Tuberculosis
long-term risk Tuberculosis migrant immigration asylum seekers refugees