Frequency and outcomes of new patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Hatay province after Syrian civil war.

Objective: It is known that tuberculosis is frequently seen among refugees. Hatay province is one of the cities that substantially expose to migration of refugees after Syrian civil war. In this study, it was aimed to compare frequency of new pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases and treatment success/cure rates between Turkish and Syrian patients.

Findings: The study included 211 patients with PTB (178 Turkish and 33 Syrian patients) registered to Hatay Tuberculosis Outpatient Clinic between 2010 and 2013. On the basis of years, number of PTB patients registered was 53 (Turkish/Syrian: 52/1) in 2010, 44 (44/0) in 2011, 41 (39/2) in 2012, and 73 (43/30) in 2013. There were no significant differences between Turkish and Syrian patients regarding age groups, gender, marital status, contact history, smear result, and drug sensitivity assays when treatment success was considered (p>0.05). Directly observed therapy (DOT) rate was higher in patients who achieved successful treatment (97.6% vs. 2.4%; p<0.001). Number of patients successfully treated was smaller among Syrian patients (63.6% vs. 88.8%; p<0.001). Leaving the treatment and/or transfer rates were higher among Syrian patients (30.3% vs. 3.9%; p<0.001). During the study period, drug-resistant tuberculosis was detected in one Syrian and 3 Turkish patients.

Conclusions: Although PTB frequency has increased in Hatay province within prior 4 years, treatment success among local population is still within limits established by World Health Organization (WHO). However, the treatment goal could not be achieved when considered together with refugees. To improve treatment success in refugees, implementation of a new national tuberculosis is needed control program in this population.