Preventive Medicine Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e39478. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039478. Epub 2012 Jun 20.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health problem in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), which has a very large labour force from high TB endemic countries. Understanding the epidemiological and clinical features of the TB problem, and the TB burden in the immigrant workforce, is necessary for improved planning and implementation of TB services and prevention measures.
A 10 year retrospective study of all TB cases reported in KSA covering the period 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2009. Data was obtained from TB reporting forms returned to the Ministry of Health. Data were then organised, tabulated and analysed for annual incidence rates by province, nationality, country of origin and gender.
There was an annual increase in the number of TB cases registered from 3,284 in 2000 to 3,964 in 2009. Non-Saudis had nearly twice the TB incidence rate compared to Saudis (P = <0.05). All but four provinces (Najran, Riyadh, Makkah, Tabuk) showed decreasing TB incidence rates. The highest rates were seen in the 65+ age group. In the 15-24 year age group the incidence rate increased from 15.7/100,000 in 2000 to 20.9/100,00 in 2009 (P = <0.05). The incidence of TB in Saudi males was higher than Saudi females. Conversely, for non-Saudis the TB incidence rates were significantly higher in females compared to males.
Despite significant investments in TB control over 15 years, TB remains an important public health problem in the KSA affecting all age groups, and Saudis and non-Saudis alike. Identification of the major risk factors associated with the persistently high TB rates in workers migrating to KSA is required. Further studies are warranted to delineate whether such patients re-activate latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection or acquire new M.tb infection after arrival in KSA. Appropriate interventions are required to reduce TB incidence rates as have been implemented by other countries.
结核病（TB）仍然是沙特阿拉伯王国（KSA）的一个公共卫生问题，该国拥有来自高结核病流行国家的庞大劳动力。了解结核病问题的流行病学和临床特征，以及移民劳动力中的结核病负担，对于改进结核病服务和预防措施的规划和实施是必要的。
对 2000 年 1 月 1 日至 2009 年 12 月 31 日期间报告的沙特阿拉伯所有结核病病例进行了为期 10 年的回顾性研究。数据来自向卫生部报告的结核病报告表。然后对数据进行整理、制表和分析，按省份、国籍、原籍国和性别计算年度发病率。
报告的结核病病例数量逐年增加，从 2000 年的 3284 例增加到 2009 年的 3964 例。非沙特人的结核病发病率几乎是沙特人的两倍（P<0.05）。除了纳季兰、利雅得、麦加和塔布克四个省外，其他所有省份的结核病发病率都在下降。发病率最高的是 65 岁以上的人群。在 15-24 岁年龄组，发病率从 2000 年的 15.7/100,000 增加到 2009 年的 20.9/100,00（P<0.05）。沙特男性的结核病发病率高于沙特女性。相反，对于非沙特人，女性的结核病发病率明显高于男性。
尽管在过去 15 年中对结核病控制进行了大量投资，但结核病仍然是沙特阿拉伯的一个重要公共卫生问题，影响着所有年龄组的沙特人和非沙特人。需要确定与移民到 KSA 的工人持续高结核病率相关的主要危险因素。需要进一步研究，以确定这些患者是重新激活潜伏的结核分枝杆菌（M.tb）感染，还是在抵达 KSA 后获得新的 M.tb 感染。需要采取适当的干预措施来降低结核病发病率，就像其他国家所做的那样。
