Journal of Tropical Diseases and Parasitology ›› 2025, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (4): 235-238,253.doi: 10.20199/j.issn.1672-2302.2025.04.008

• CONTROL STUDY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Registration status and influencing factors of healthcare-seeking delay among elderly tuberculosis patients in Hefei City from 2017 to 2023

CAO Hong1(), LI Zhen1, CHEN Shuangshuang1, XU Rui1, WU Jinju1, LU LunShan2()   

  1. 1. Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei 230091, Anhui Province, China
    2. Infection Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital)
  • Received:2024-11-28 Online:2025-08-20 Published:2025-09-19
  • Contact: LU LunShan, E-mail: ahslyylls@163.com

Abstract:

Objective To analyze the registration status and influencing factors of healthcare-seeking delay among pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients aged 65 years and above (elderly TB patients) in Hefei City, so as to provide evidence for TB prevention and control in the elderly population. Methods The data of elderly TB patients registered in seven designated TB hospitals in Hefei City from 2017 to 2023 were extracted from the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze registration status, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with healthcare-seeking delay. Results A total of 8 135 elderly TB cases were registered, which accounted for 32.81% of all TB cases in Hefei area. There were 4 695 pathogen-positive cases (57.71%). Both the composition ratio of elderly TB cases and the pathogen-positive rate showed an upward trend (χ2 trend = 50.23 and 168.96, respectively, both P < 0.01). Healthcare-seeking delay occurred in 5 118 cases (62.91%), which exhibited a declining trend (χ2 trend = 84.58, P<0.01). The medium duration for healthcare-seeking was 20 (10-40) days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the risks of healthcare-seeking delay were relatively lower in population whose current residential address was in the suburban areas/counties (OR=0.643, 95% CI: 0.575-0.719), floating populations (OR=0.502, 95% CI: 0.314-0.803), and patients identified through referral (OR=0.702, 95% CI: 0.598-0.824) or active follow-up (OR=0.466, 95% CI: 0.389-0.559). Conclusion The proportion of elderly TB patients and bacteriological confirmation rate in Hefei increased from 2017 to 2023, yet healthcare seeking delay remains higher, for which strengthening active TB screening and health education for the elderly is recommended to improve the situation healthcare-seeking delay.

Key words: Tuberculosis, Elderly population, Healthcare-seeking delay, Hefei City

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