Abstract:

Data of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients aged ≥60 years residing in Shandong Province registered from 2010 to 2024 was extracted from the Tuberculosis Management Information System, a subsystem of China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze patient delay, and Joinpoint regression analysis was applied to examine change trend of patient delay rates. Results showed that the median patient delay (interquartile range) among elderly PTB patients in Shandong was 37 (27, 68) days, with a patient delay rate of 71.83% (107787/150061). The delay rates demonstrated an initial decline trend followed by an upward trend: decreasing at an annual rate of 0.48% (t=-0.987, P>0.05) during 2010—2016, declining by 2.27% annually (t=-2.541, P<0.05) during 2016—2021, and increasing by 2.72% annually (t=1.877, P>0.05) during 2021—2024. Higher delay rates were observed among younger elderly (60-69 years: 72.15%) patients, farmers (72.33%), homemaker/unemployed individuals (73.54%), non-key surveillance populations (71.89%), patients without comorbidities (71.96%), those with concurrent other tuberculosis (73.63%), and retreatment cases (74.15%). In 2024, Linyi (83.55%), Heze (78.21%), and Weihai (77.16%) exhibited higher delay rates. Between 2010 and 2024, Liaocheng and Weihai experienced the most significant increases in delay rates (17.86% and 13.48%, respectively). The patient delay rates among elderly PTB patients in Shandong Province showed a declining-then-rising trend from 2010 to 2024, suggesting that prevention and control work still faces challenge and calls for targeted measures focusing on key populations and regions.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary, Aged, Patient delay, Shandong Province