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. 2019 Aug 1;19(1):140.
doi: 10.1186/s12890-019-0901-z.

Prevalence, incidence, and mortality of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in Korea: a nationwide population-based study

Seon Cheol Park  1 , Min Jin Kang  2 , Chang Hoon Han  1 , Sun Min Lee  1 , Cheong Ju Kim  1 , Jung Mo Lee  1 , Young Ae Kang  3
Affiliations

Prevalence, incidence, and mortality of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in Korea: a nationwide population-based study

Seon Cheol Park et al. BMC Pulm Med. .

Abstract

Background: Epidemiologic characteristics of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease remain largely unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate incidence, prevalence, and mortality of NTM infection in a large nationwide population-based cohort in Korea.

Methods: Data of the National Health Insurance Service database, an extensive health-related database including most Korean residents, were used. Adults with a primary diagnosis of NTM as determined by International Classification of Disease-Tenth Revision coding (A31) were identified between 2003 and 2016. Incidence, prevalence, and mortality of NTM infection were analyzed.

Results: A total of 46,194 individuals had a primary diagnosis of NTM infection. Their mean age was 55.8 years. Of these subjects, 61.1% were females. Annual age-adjusted incidence and prevalence of NTM infection tended to increase rapidly from 2003 to 2016. Age-adjusted incidence and prevalence was 17.9 and 33.3 per 100,000 population in 2016. The incidence and prevalence were higher in females and the elderly. The 5-year mortality rate in the population with NTM infection was 17.8%. The standardized mortality ratio of patients with NTM infection to the general population was 2.16 (95% confidence interval: 2.10 to 2.22).

Conclusions: This large population-based study showed that the incidence and prevalence of NTM infection in Korea increased rapidly from 2003 to 2016. They were higher in women and the elderly. The mortality rate in the population with NTM infection was higher than that in the general population.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Incidence; Mortality; Nontuberculous mycobacteria; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Prevalence of NTM infection between 2003 and 2016 (a) and by age groups (b). The rates are per 100,000 population. NTM = nontuberculous mycobacteria
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Incidence of NTM infection between 2003 and 2016 (a) and by age groups (b). The rates are per 100,000 population. NTM = nontuberculous mycobacteria
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Incidence of NTM infection between 2003 and 2016 by different diagnostic criteria. The rates are per 100,000 population. Principal: One or more visits with NTM diagnostic code as principal diagnosis; Principal or additional: One or more visits with NTM diagnostic code as the principal or additional diagnosis; Principal or additional ≥2 times: Two or more visits with NTM diagnostic code as the principal or additional diagnosis. NTM = nontuberculous mycobacteria
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Survival curve of patients with NTM infection by gender (a) and by age (b). NTM = nontuberculous mycobacteria
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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