Tuberculosis in the UK: Annual report on tuberculosis surveillance in the UK 2008

Synopsis

Scale of the problem

• 8417 cases of tuberculosis were reported in the UK  in 2007, a rate of 13.8 per 100,000 population:  numbers and rates have remained stable since 2005.
• 92% of cases were reported in England, with London accounting for the largest proportion (39% of UK cases) and the highest regional rate (43.2 per 100,000 population).
• 72% of cases were born outside the UK, predominantly from South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
• The highest rates of tuberculosis were seen among non-UK born black African and Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi ethnic groups.
• Nearly half (44%) of cases had extra-pulmonary disease only.
  

Drug resistance

• 7.4% of cases in the UK were resistant to at least one first line drug, 6.8% were isoniazid resistant and 1.2% multi-drug resistant:  similar to levels seen in recent years.
• Drug resistance was more common among cases born outside the UK, those with a previous history of tuberculosis, and cases aged less than 45 years.
• Isoniazid resistance was higher among UK born than non-UK born cases in London, the East of England, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
  

Treatment outcomes

• Treatment outcomes were provided for 93% of cases reported in 2006, an increase compared to previous years.
• The proportion completing treatment was 79%, the same as in the previous year.
• Treatment completion was lower among males, older cases, the UK born and those with pulmonary disease.
• As in previous years, the most common reasons for not completing treatment were death (6%) and still being on treatment (6%).
  

Additional information

• Research and development: published output of the Health Protection Agency from 2003
• Slideset of tables and figures from the TB annual report 2008 (PowerPoint Presentation, 912 KB)
• Tuberculosis homepage

Last reviewed: 8 January 2010