Tuberculosis among persons born in the Philippines and living in the United States, 2000-2007

Objectives: We examined demographic, clinical, and treatment outcome characteristics of Filipinos with tuberculosis (TB) in the United States. Methods: We calculated TB case rates from US Census Bureau population estimates and National Tuberculosis Surveillance System data for US-born non- Hispanic Whites and for US residents born in the Philippines, India, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Korea-countries that are major contributors to the TB burden in the United States. We compared Filipinos with the other groups through univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Of 45504 TB patients, 15.5% were Filipinos; 43.0% were other Asian/ Pacific Islander groups; and 41.6% were Whites. Per 100000 persons in 2007, the TB rate was 73.5 among Cambodians, 54.0 among Vietnamese, 52.1 among Filipinos, and 0.9 among Whites. Filipinos were more likely than other groups to be employed as health care workers and to have used private health care providers but less likely to be HIV positive and to be offered HIV testing. Conclusions: The relatively high TB rate among Filipinos indicates that TB control strategies should target this population. Providers should be encouraged to offer HIV testing to all TB patients.