Trends and Disparities in TB among U.S. Born Black and White Chicago Residents, 1998 - 2008.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the decline of tuberculosis (TB) cases among U.S.-born non-Hispanic (NH) black and white Chicago residents.

METHODS: Data from the National TB Surveillance System was used to analyze trends and characteristics of reported TB cases among U.S.-born NH black and U.S.-born NH white Chicago residents from 1998-2008.

RESULTS: Chicago reported a total of 3,821 TB cases over the 11-year time period. Of these, 1,916 were U.S.-born NH black and 235 were U.S.-born NH white. The proportion of cases attributable to U.S.-born NH blacks was 63% (294/469) in 1998 and 34% in 2008 (72/213). Regression analysis for trends from 2000-2008 revealed a greater than predicted decrease in rates among U.S.-born NH blacks (p<0.05). U.S.-born NH blacks had greater odds than U.S.-born NH whites of HIV infection (OR 1.8), non-injecting drug use (OR 3.0), unemployment (OR 1.7), receiving care from the health department (OR 2.2) and receiving directly observed therapy (OR 3.0).

CONCLUSION: Despite more TB risk factors in Chicago's U.S.-born black population, there was a narrowing of TB case disparity in Chicago from 1998-2008. Continued focused strategies aimed at controlling TB are needed.