Tuberculosis in Malta: Thirty-five years of epidemiological trends in the native population - Malta Medical Journal Volume 27 (2015); Issue 3

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Volume 27, Issue 3 (go to table of contents)

Original Article

Tuberculosis in Malta: Thirty-five years of epidemiological trends in the native population

Brian Farrugia, Charmaine Gauci, Julian Mamo, Wafaa Ahmed, Joseph Cacciottolo

Malta Medical Journal, 2015: 3; 2

Background: Malta, the smallest island state in Europe, with an approximate population of 400,000, has one of the lowest reported incidence rates for tuberculosis (TB) in its native-born population.1 Long- term trends for TB among this population were investigated.
Methods: A period of 35 years (1979-2013) for the Malta-born population was investigated using single-age population numbers for each year, retrospective, and partly prospective analysis of notified TB cases. Mean five-yearly populations were then used to calculate 5- yearly incidence rates for birth-cohorts, age-groups, major site and gender. Annual reported TB incidence rates were also calculated.
Results: In the Malta-born population, over the 35- year period, reported yearly TB incidence shows a downward, albeit decelerating trend. Consecutive follow-up of 5-year age-cohorts and 5-year age-groups confirms that incidence has fallen, with the highest rates being observed in progressively older age-groups. A falling trend in TB incidence according major site and gender was also observed.
Conclusion: TB is being successfully controlled among the Malta-born population, and confirmed to be slowly approaching the elimination phase.

Keywords:

Malta-born population, low incidence, epidemiology, tuberculosis.

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