%0 Journal Article %A Concepción Morales-García %A Jorge Parra-Ruiz %A Beatriz Valero-Aguilera %A Sara Sanbonmatsu-Gámez %A Cintia Merinas-López %A Beatriz Jiménez-Rodríguez %A José Hernández-Quero %T Differential characteristics of tuberculosis among immigrants %D 2013 %J European Respiratory Journal %P P4681 %V 42 %N Suppl 57 %X Background: The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among the native population continues to decrease, resulting in a higher proportion of foreign-born cases.The aim of this study was to identify the differential characteristics of TB within the immigrant population with respect to natives in the Health District of South Granada (HDSG).Methods: This was a prospective study of all cases of TB diagnosed in the HDSG during the period 2003 to 2010. Immigration-related variables were assessed using bivariate analysis. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05 in all cases. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistical 19.Results: 319 TB cases were diagnosed: 247 natives and 72 (22.6%) immigrants. The following variables were significantly associated with immigrant TB cases: age <35 years (64.1% vs 26.4% p<0.001 OR=4.90; CI:2.70-9.00), higher percentage of cavitation (32.8% vs 17.8% p=0.011 OR=2.26; CI:1.20-4.20), higher percentage of smear-positive cases (51.6% vs 37.2% p =0.042 OR=1.80; CI: 1.02-3.16), higher diagnostic delay (median 32 days vs 21 days, p=0.043) and lower mortality (1.4% vs 10.7% p=0.026 OR=0.12; CI:0.16-0.89). No other significant differences in treatment conclusion, site or clinical characteristics were observed between the 2 groups.The percentage of foreign-born TB cases increased from under 5% in 2003 to 50% in 2010. More than half came from either Romania (35%) or Morocco (21%).Conclusions: The incidence of TB has remained constant in HDSG due to the increase in cases among immigrants. Compared with native TB, immigrant TB patients were younger and had a longer diagnostic delay and more advanced disease, indicating poorer TB control. Strategies for earlier diagnosis of TB in immigrants are mandatory. %U https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/42/Suppl_57/P4681.full.pdf