Kianoush Dehghani1, Zhiyi Lan2, Peizhi Li3, Sascha Wilk Michelsen4, Sean Waites5, Andrea Benedetti2, Pierre Lejeune6, Jill Torrie6, Elizabeth Robinson6, Berenica Vejvoda7, Muhammad Mullah8, Diana Redwood9, Michael Cooper10, Anne Fanning11, Wadieh Yacoub12, Gonzalo G Alvarez13, Bolette Søborg4, Richard Long14, Dick Menzies2. 1. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Public Health Department of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: kianoush.dehghani@mcgill.ca. 2. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Montreal Chest Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. 3. Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Montreal Chest Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. 4. Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark. 5. Department of Health, Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, NU, Canada. 6. Public Health Department of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay, Montreal, QC, Canada. 7. McGill Libraries, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. 8. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Biostatistics, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 9. Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USA. 10. Family Medicine, Anchorage, AK, USA. 11. Department of Medicine, University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada. 12. First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada, Alberta Region, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 13. School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 14. Department of Medicine, University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada; Tuberculosis Program Evaluation and Research Unit, University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis continues to disproportionately affect many Indigenous populations in the USA, Canada, and Greenland. We aimed to investigate whether population-based tuberculosis-specific interventions or changes in general health and socioeconomic indicators, or a combination of these factors, were associated with changes in tuberculosis incidence in these Indigenous populations. METHODS: For this population-based study we examined annual tuberculosis notification rates between 1960 and 2014 in six Indigenous populations of the USA, Canada, and Greenland (Inuit [Greenland], American Indian and Alaska Native [Alaska, USA], First Nations [Alberta, Canada], Cree of Eeyou Istchee [Quebec, Canada], Inuit of Nunavik [Quebec, Canada], and Inuit of Nunavut [Canada]), as well as the general population of Canada. We used mixed-model linear regression to estimate the association of these rates with population-wide interventions of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination of infants, radiographic screening, or testing and treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and with other health and socioeconomic indicators including life expectancy, infant mortality, diabetes, obesity, smoking, alcohol use, crowded housing, employment, education, and health expenditures. FINDINGS: Tuberculosis notification rates declined rapidly in all six Indigenous populations between 1960 and 1980, with continued decline in Indigenous populations in Alberta, Alaska, and Eeyou Istchee thereafter but recrudescence in Inuit populations of Nunavut, Nunavik, and Greenland. Annual percentage reductions in tuberculosis incidence were significantly associated with two tuberculosis control interventions, relative to no intervention, and after adjustment for infant mortality and smoking: BCG vaccination (-11%, 95% CI -6 to -17) and LTBI screening and treatment (-10%, -3 to -18). Adjusted associations were not significant for chest radiographic screening (-1%, 95% CI -7 to 5). Declining tuberculosis notification rates were significantly associated with increased life expectancy (-37·8 [95% CI -41·7 to -33·9] fewer cases per 100 000 for each 1-year increase) and decreased infant mortality (-9·0 [-9·5 to -8·6] fewer cases per 100 000 for each death averted per 1000 livebirths) in all six Indigenous populations, but no significant associations were observed for other health and socioeconomic indicators examined. INTERPRETATION: Population-based BCG vaccination of infants and LTBI screening and treatment were associated with significant decreases in tuberculosis notification rates in these Indigenous populations. These interventions should be reinforced in populations still affected by tuberculosis, while also addressing the persistent health and socioeconomic disparities. FUNDING: Public Health Department of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay.
BACKGROUND:Tuberculosis continues to disproportionately affect many Indigenous populations in the USA, Canada, and Greenland. We aimed to investigate whether population-based tuberculosis-specific interventions or changes in general health and socioeconomic indicators, or a combination of these factors, were associated with changes in tuberculosis incidence in these Indigenous populations. METHODS: For this population-based study we examined annual tuberculosis notification rates between 1960 and 2014 in six Indigenous populations of the USA, Canada, and Greenland (Inuit [Greenland], American Indian and Alaska Native [Alaska, USA], First Nations [Alberta, Canada], Cree of Eeyou Istchee [Quebec, Canada], Inuit of Nunavik [Quebec, Canada], and Inuit of Nunavut [Canada]), as well as the general population of Canada. We used mixed-model linear regression to estimate the association of these rates with population-wide interventions of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination of infants, radiographic screening, or testing and treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and with other health and socioeconomic indicators including life expectancy, infant mortality, diabetes, obesity, smoking, alcohol use, crowded housing, employment, education, and health expenditures. FINDINGS:Tuberculosis notification rates declined rapidly in all six Indigenous populations between 1960 and 1980, with continued decline in Indigenous populations in Alberta, Alaska, and Eeyou Istchee thereafter but recrudescence in Inuit populations of Nunavut, Nunavik, and Greenland. Annual percentage reductions in tuberculosis incidence were significantly associated with two tuberculosis control interventions, relative to no intervention, and after adjustment for infant mortality and smoking: BCG vaccination (-11%, 95% CI -6 to -17) and LTBI screening and treatment (-10%, -3 to -18). Adjusted associations were not significant for chest radiographic screening (-1%, 95% CI -7 to 5). Declining tuberculosis notification rates were significantly associated with increased life expectancy (-37·8 [95% CI -41·7 to -33·9] fewer cases per 100 000 for each 1-year increase) and decreased infant mortality (-9·0 [-9·5 to -8·6] fewer cases per 100 000 for each death averted per 1000 livebirths) in all six Indigenous populations, but no significant associations were observed for other health and socioeconomic indicators examined. INTERPRETATION: Population-based BCG vaccination of infants and LTBI screening and treatment were associated with significant decreases in tuberculosis notification rates in these Indigenous populations. These interventions should be reinforced in populations still affected by tuberculosis, while also addressing the persistent health and socioeconomic disparities. FUNDING: Public Health Department of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay.
Authors: Julie A Beans; Vanessa Y Hiratsuka; Aliassa L Shane; Gretchen E Day; Diana G Redwood; Christie A Flanagan; Amy Swango Wilson; Barbara V Howard; Jason G Umans; Kathryn R Koller Journal: J Community Health Date: 2019-10
Authors: J L Guthrie; L Strudwick; B Roberts; M Allen; J McFadzen; D Roth; D Jorgensen; M Rodrigues; P Tang; B Hanley; J Johnston; V J Cook; J L Gardy Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2019-01 Impact factor: 2.451
Authors: Aashna Uppal; Olivia Oxlade; Ntwali Placide Nsengiyumva; Dieynaba S N'Diaye; Gonzalo G Alvarez; Kevin Schwartzman Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-02-03 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: G G Alvarez; D Van Dyk; R Mallick; S Lesperance; P Demaio; S Finn; S Edmunds Potvin; M Patterson; C Pease; K Amaratunga; C Hui; D W Cameron; S Mulpuru; S D Aaron; F Momoli; A Zwerling Journal: Int J Circumpolar Health Date: 2020-12 Impact factor: 1.228