Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32560720›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2020

Tuberculosis screening of asylum seekers in Finland, 2015-2016.

Pirre E Räisänen, Hanna Soini, Paula Tiittala, Olli Snellman, Petri Ruutu, J Pekka Nuorti, Outi Lyytikäinen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Pirre E RäisänenHealth Sciences unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 30, FI-00271, Helsinki, Finland. pirre.raisanen@thl.fi.
Hanna SoiniInfectious Disease Control and Vaccinations Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
Paula TiittalaInfectious Disease Control and Vaccinations Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
Olli SnellmanFinnish Immigration Service, Helsinki, Finland.
Petri RuutuInfectious Disease Control and Vaccinations Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
J Pekka NuortiHealth Sciences unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 30, FI-00271, Helsinki, Finland.
Outi LyytikäinenInfectious Disease Control and Vaccinations Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.

Funding

Hengityssairauksien Tutkimussäätiö NASuomen Tuberkuloosin Vastustamisyhdistyksen Säätiö NATampereen Tuberkuloosisäätiö NA
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn Finland, asylum seekers from countries with high tuberculosis (TB) incidence (> 50/100,000 population/year) and those coming from a refugee camp or conflict area are eligible for TB screening. The aim of this study was to characterise the TB cases diagnosed during screening and estimate the yield of TB screening at the reception centres among asylum seekers, who arrived in Finland during 2015-2016.

methodsVoluntary screening conducted at reception centres included an interview and a chest X-ray. Data on TB screening and health status of asylum seekers was obtained from the reception centres' national health register (HRS). To identify confirmed TB cases, the National Infectious Disease Register (NIDR) data of foreign-born cases during 2015-2016 were linked with HRS data. TB screening yield was defined as the percentage of TB cases identified among screened asylum seekers, stratified by country of origin.

resultsDuring 2015-2016, a total of 38,134 asylum applications were received (57% were from Iraq, 16% from Afghanistan and 6% from Somalia) and 25,048 chest x-rays were performed. A total of 96 TB cases were reported to the NIDR among asylum seekers in 2015-2016; 94 (98%) of them had been screened. Screening identified 48 (50%) cases: 83% were male, 56% aged 18-34 years, 42% from Somalia, 27% from Afghanistan and 13% from Iraq. Furthermore, 92% had pulmonary TB, 61% were culture-confirmed and 44% asymptomatic. TB screening yield was 0.19% (48/25048) (95%CI, 0.14-0.25%) and it varied between 0 and 0.83% stratified by country of origin. Number needed to screen was 522.

conclusionsTB screening yield was higher as compared with data reported from other European countries conducting active screening among asylum seekers. Half of the TB cases among asylum seekers were first suspected in screening; 44% were asymptomatic. TB yield varied widely between asylum seekers from different geographic areas.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAfghanistanFemaleFinlandHealth StatusHumansIncidenceIraqMaleMass ScreeningMiddle AgedRadiographyRefugeesSomaliaTuberculosis, PulmonaryAsylum seekersForeign-bornScreeningTuberculosis

Identifiers

PMID32560720
PMCPMC7305613

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.