Tuberculosis in North Carolina: Trends across two decades, 1980-1999

In North Carolina, we analyzed cumulative data for tuberculosis (TB) from 1 980 through 1999 to determine trends in incidence, population subgroups at risk, and implications for health policy-makers. The overall incidence rate s declined significantly over the study period (p = 0.0001). This decline c orrelates strongly with an increase in TB patients receiving directly obser ved therapy. Males have approximately twice the risk for disease, and perso ns > 65 years of age are at the highest risk. For every Caucasian with TB, six blacks, six Hispanics, and eight Asians have the disease. TB incidence rates are declining in all other population subgroups but increasing in for eign-born and Hispanic persons.