Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Ohio

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global infectious disease often associated with HIV. Study of the distribution and epidemiologic trends may help target prevention and control measures towards high risk areas and groups. Objective: To determine TB trends in four counties in Ohio, i.e. Franklin, Cuyahoga, Hamilton and Montgomery counties, and to explore differences in distribution of cases across gender, age groups and races. Methods: TB surveillance data was collected from the Ohio Department of Health website for 12 years (1999-2011). Mean TB rates across gender were compared using the two sample t-test. One way ANOVA was used to compare means across three age categories (\u3c 15 years, 15-64 years,\u3e 64 years) and races (Asians, Whites, and African Americans). To present trends in TB rates over 12 years, data were plotted by gender, age, and race across the four counties. Results: TB case rates were significantly different across gender, with rates in males almost twice as high as compared to females (p-value \u3c 0.009). TB rates were significantly higher in the 15-64 and \u3e 65 age groups than in the \u3c 15 years age group (p \u3c 0.01). Asians had the highest number of TB case rates as compared to other races (p-value \u3c 0.01). TB trends in Ohio over the past decade indicate that the incidence is declining over time. Conclusion: TB rates differed significantly across gender, age, and race, decreasing over time. High risk target populations for TB control are males, people \u3e 65 years, and Asians