Colombian ocular infectious epidemiology study (COIES): presumed ocular tuberculosis incidence and sociodemographic characterization, 2015–2020

ABSTRACT

Purpose

This study aims to describe the incidence and geographical distribution of presumed ocular tuberculosis (POTB) in Colombia between 2015 and 2020 based on the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection data.

Methods

We conducted a claims-based study using the Integrated Social Protection Information System database from the Colombian Ministry of Health. We used the specific code of the International Classification of Diseases for Ocular Tuberculosis (A18.5) and tuberculosis from 2015 to 2020 to estimate the incidence and the demographic status of the disease in Colombia. We used STROBE guidelines.

Results

During the 6 years of study, the crude unadjusted incidence was 0.2 new cases of POTB in one million consulting patients and 55 new cases of POTB in 100,000 patients with TB showing a decreasing pattern of the disease. From the 28 new cases, the mean age of presentation was 41.4 years (SD ± 25.3) with a female predominance (60.7% of the cases). Distribution by age shows a higher proportion of cases in groups 15–19 (14%), 20–24 (11%), 55–59 (11%), and 60–64 (11%) years of age. The geographic analysis showed a higher number of cases in Andean region, followed by the Caribbean and Pacific regions.

Conclusions

This is the first study that determines the incidence of POTB in a developing country from Latin America. POTB incidence in Colombia is lower than the reported worldwide. It could be attributed to a low burden of Tuberculosis in Colombia, underdiagnosis, and a low rate of immigration from countries with a high burden of TB.

KEYWORDS:

• Cross-Sectional
• epidemiology
• ocular tuberculosis
• ophthalmology
• Tuberculosis
• immigration

Acknowledgments

• Universidad del Rosario for financing the publication charges.

• Marcela Gómez Suárez for providing epidemiological assistance.

• Nicolás Molano Gonzalez for providing bioestadistical assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Declarations

This submission has not been published anywhere previously and that it is not simultaneously being considered for any other publication.

Ethics approval

This study adheres to the ethical principles for human research established by the Helsinki Declaration, the Belmont Report, and Colombian Resolution 008430 of 1993. According to the risks contemplated in resolution 8430 from 1993, this investigation is considered without risks. The information in the databases used in this article is freely accessible and is available for research purposes. In the same way, their coding system ensures data confidentiality.

Availability of data and materials

The information in the databases used in this article is freely accessible and is available for research purposes.

Competing interests

None of the following authors have any proprietary interests or conflicts of interest related to this submission

Authors’ contributions

• CCG, DBL, GAMS, JRG, WRC, DPT: Conception and design of the study, data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data, drafting the article, revising it critically for important intellectual content, final approval of the version to be submitted.

• ADLT: Thematic authority, conception, and design of the study, data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data drafting the article, revising it critically for important intellectual content, final approval of the version to be submitted.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/09286586.2022.2129076

Additional information

Funding

The authors reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.