Extra-pulmonary TB: a comparison between migrants and populations born in a low-incidence country

C. R. Khaw; A. M. Malhotra; S. Tehranchi; A. Rahman; V. White; S. Tiberi; H. Kunst

doi:10.5588/ijtld.25.0400

Extra-pulmonary TB: a comparison between migrants and populations born in a low-incidence country

C. R. Khaw
, A. M. Malhotra
, S. Tehranchi
, A. Rahman
, V. White
, S. Tiberi
, H. Kunst

Clinical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The proportion of TB cases attributable to extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) is increasing in high-income countries, including England. We sought to describe the burden of EPTB in East London, an area with a large migrant population and high TB incidence.

A retrospective analysis of individuals with TB was conducted and compared to national data.

1,262 patients were diagnosed with TB between 2016 and 2019. 52.7% had EPTB, 32.6% isolated pulmonary TB (PTB), and 14.7% concurrent disease. This compares to 43.8% of individuals nationally with isolated EPTB. In our cohort, of those with EPTB, 83.6% were non-UK-born (migrants). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that migrants had significantly higher odds of EPTB compared to UK-born individuals after adjusting for age and sex (adjusted odds ratio: 1.55, 95% confidence interval: 1.16–2.09, P = 0.003). Median time since entry to the UK among migrants who were diagnosed with EPTB was 11 years (interquartile range: 5–21). Treatment outcomes were worse in migrants with EPTB, mainly due to higher mortality.

Our data reports a higher proportion of EPTB compared to national data. EPTB was more common in migrants than UK-born individuals.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	77-83
Number of pages	7
Journal	The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Volume	30
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.25.0400
Publication status	Published - 30 Jan 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

East London
EPTB
tuberculosis
United Kingdom

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EPTB IJTLD 021225Accepted author manuscript, 396 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Khaw, C. R., Malhotra, A. M., Tehranchi, S., Rahman, A., White, V., Tiberi, S., & Kunst, H. (2026). Extra-pulmonary TB: a comparison between migrants and populations born in a low-incidence country. The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 30(2), 77-83. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.25.0400

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title = "Extra-pulmonary TB: a comparison between migrants and populations born in a low-incidence country",

abstract = "The proportion of TB cases attributable to extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) is increasing in high-income countries, including England. We sought to describe the burden of EPTB in East London, an area with a large migrant population and high TB incidence. A retrospective analysis of individuals with TB was conducted and compared to national data. 1,262 patients were diagnosed with TB between 2016 and 2019. 52.7\% had EPTB, 32.6\% isolated pulmonary TB (PTB), and 14.7\% concurrent disease. This compares to 43.8\% of individuals nationally with isolated EPTB. In our cohort, of those with EPTB, 83.6\% were non-UK-born (migrants). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that migrants had significantly higher odds of EPTB compared to UK-born individuals after adjusting for age and sex (adjusted odds ratio: 1.55, 95\% confidence interval: 1.16–2.09, P = 0.003). Median time since entry to the UK among migrants who were diagnosed with EPTB was 11 years (interquartile range: 5–21). Treatment outcomes were worse in migrants with EPTB, mainly due to higher mortality. Our data reports a higher proportion of EPTB compared to national data. EPTB was more common in migrants than UK-born individuals.",

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Khaw, CR, Malhotra, AM, Tehranchi, S, Rahman, A, White, V, Tiberi, S & Kunst, H 2026, 'Extra-pulmonary TB: a comparison between migrants and populations born in a low-incidence country', The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 77-83. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.25.0400

Extra-pulmonary TB: a comparison between migrants and populations born in a low-incidence country. / Khaw, C. R.; Malhotra, A. M.; Tehranchi, S. et al.
In: The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Vol. 30, No. 2, 30.01.2026, p. 77-83.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Extra-pulmonary TB: a comparison between migrants and populations born in a low-incidence country

AU - Khaw, C. R.

AU - Malhotra, A. M.

AU - Tehranchi, S.

AU - Rahman, A.

AU - White, V.

AU - Tiberi, S.

AU - Kunst, H.

PY - 2026/1/30

Y1 - 2026/1/30

N2 - The proportion of TB cases attributable to extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) is increasing in high-income countries, including England. We sought to describe the burden of EPTB in East London, an area with a large migrant population and high TB incidence. A retrospective analysis of individuals with TB was conducted and compared to national data. 1,262 patients were diagnosed with TB between 2016 and 2019. 52.7% had EPTB, 32.6% isolated pulmonary TB (PTB), and 14.7% concurrent disease. This compares to 43.8% of individuals nationally with isolated EPTB. In our cohort, of those with EPTB, 83.6% were non-UK-born (migrants). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that migrants had significantly higher odds of EPTB compared to UK-born individuals after adjusting for age and sex (adjusted odds ratio: 1.55, 95% confidence interval: 1.16–2.09, P = 0.003). Median time since entry to the UK among migrants who were diagnosed with EPTB was 11 years (interquartile range: 5–21). Treatment outcomes were worse in migrants with EPTB, mainly due to higher mortality. Our data reports a higher proportion of EPTB compared to national data. EPTB was more common in migrants than UK-born individuals.

AB - The proportion of TB cases attributable to extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) is increasing in high-income countries, including England. We sought to describe the burden of EPTB in East London, an area with a large migrant population and high TB incidence. A retrospective analysis of individuals with TB was conducted and compared to national data. 1,262 patients were diagnosed with TB between 2016 and 2019. 52.7% had EPTB, 32.6% isolated pulmonary TB (PTB), and 14.7% concurrent disease. This compares to 43.8% of individuals nationally with isolated EPTB. In our cohort, of those with EPTB, 83.6% were non-UK-born (migrants). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that migrants had significantly higher odds of EPTB compared to UK-born individuals after adjusting for age and sex (adjusted odds ratio: 1.55, 95% confidence interval: 1.16–2.09, P = 0.003). Median time since entry to the UK among migrants who were diagnosed with EPTB was 11 years (interquartile range: 5–21). Treatment outcomes were worse in migrants with EPTB, mainly due to higher mortality. Our data reports a higher proportion of EPTB compared to national data. EPTB was more common in migrants than UK-born individuals.

KW - East London

KW - EPTB

KW - tuberculosis

KW - United Kingdom

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DO - 10.5588/ijtld.25.0400

M3 - Article

C2 - 41618105

AN - SCOPUS:105029069590

SN - 1027-3719

VL - 30

SP - 77

EP - 83

JO - The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

JF - The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

IS - 2

ER -

Extra-pulmonary TB: a comparison between migrants and populations born in a low-incidence country

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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