Incidence of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Infection, by Ethnic Group, Hawaii, USA, 2005-2019

Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Aug;28(8):1543-1550. doi: 10.3201/eid2808.212375.

Abstract

To further clarify differences in the risk for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary infection (NTM-PI) among ethnic populations in Hawaii, USA, we conducted a retrospective cohort study among beneficiaries of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii (KPH). We abstracted demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, and microbiological data from KPH electronic health records for 2005-2019. An NTM-PI case-patient was defined as a person from whom >1 NTM pulmonary isolate was obtained. We performed Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate incidence of NTM-PI while controlling for confounders. Across ethnic groups, risk for NTM-PI was higher among persons who were underweight (body mass index [BMI] <18.5 kg/m2). Among beneficiaries who self-identified as any Asian ethnicity, risk for incident NTM-PI was increased by 30%. Low BMI may increase susceptibility to NTM-PI, and risk may be higher for persons who self-identify as Asian, independent of BMI.

Keywords: Hawaii; Mycobacterium avium complex; Mycobacterium infections; NTM; Nontuberculous mycobacteria; United States; bacteria; ethnic group; nontuberculous; respiratory infections; tuberculosis and other mycobacteria.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Ethnicity
  • Hawaii / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous* / epidemiology
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous* / microbiology
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
  • Opportunistic Infections*
  • Retrospective Studies