Optimizing Quality of Care for Elderly Tuberculosis Patients in Shanghai, China: Insights from Patient Cascade of Care and Patient Pathway Analysis.

ABSTRACT: With population aging, the burden of tuberculosis (TB) among the elderly is rising. Older adults are at high risk of TB but susceptible to poor TB care. In this study, we enrolled TB patients aged over 60 years registered in Shanghai during 2019-2021. A seven-step care cascade from estimated TB burden in the community to treatment outcomes was constructed to quantify retention and attrition at each step of TB health service. Patient pathway analysis was carried out in two districts of Shanghai to describe patients' care-seeking behaviors, service coverage, and diagnosis delays. Across the care cascade, the largest gaps occurred from symptom onset to care seeking (11.3%) and from treatment initiation to completion (10.7%). Male sex, older age, and mycobacterium tuberculosis positivity were

SUBMITTER: Han Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12945059 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature