Delay in healthcare-seeking among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Kaihua County from 2016 to 2025
LU Mei1, YU Xia1, WANG Debing1, TAO Zhiyong1, WANG Wei2, SONG Yiqing1
1. Kaihua County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kaihua, Zhejiang 324300, China; 2. Quzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Quzhou, Zhejiang 324000, China
Abstract:Objective To analyze the healthcare-seeking delay and its influencing factors among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Kaihua County, Zhejiang Province from 2016 to 2025, so as to provide a basis for identifying high-risk groups and optimizing comprehensive prevention and control measures for pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods Data on pulmonary tuberculosis patients registered in Kaihua County from 2016 to 2025 were collected through the Tuberculosis Information Management System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The data included demographic information, disease and treatment information, and treatment policy phases. Factors affecting delay in healthcare-seeking among pulmonary tuberculosis patients were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results A total of 2 069 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were registered in Kaihua County from 2016 to 2025. There were 1 480 males (71.53%) and 589 females (28.47%). The median age was 64.00 (interquartile range, 20.00) years. There were 972 patients with healthcare-seeking delay, with a healthcare-seeking delay rate of 46.98%. The rates of healthcare-seeking delay were relatively high among tuberculosis patients aged >40-60 years, those seeking treatment due to symptoms, and those in the basic policy guarantee period, at 51.96%, 56.33%, and 49.25%, respectively. The rates of healthcare-seeking delay among tuberculosis patients from 2016 to 2025 were 55.81%, 44.25%, 50.00%, 47.27%, 42.98%, 51.64%, 50.79%, 44.38%, 43.13% and 38.67%, showing a downward trend (P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis show that, compared with pulmonary tuberculosis patients seeking medical consultation due to symptoms, those identified through physical examinations/active screening (OR=0.024, 95%CI: 0.011-0.047) and referrals/tracking/other sources (OR=0.781, 95%CI: 0.639-0.954) had a lower risk of healthcare-seeking delay. Conclusions From 2016 to 2025, the overall rate of healthcare-seeking delay among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Kaihua County showed a downward trend from 2016 to 2025, but remained at a moderate level nationwide. The source of patients was an influencing factor for healthcare-seeking delay. Health examination/active screening and referral/tracing could effectively reduce the risk of healthcare-seeking delay.
卢美, 余霞, 汪德兵, 陶智勇, 王炜, 宋怡晴. 2016—2025年开化县肺结核患者就诊延迟分析[J]. 预防医学, 2026, 38(5): 460-463.
LU Mei, YU Xia, WANG Debing, TAO Zhiyong, WANG Wei, SONG Yiqing. Delay in healthcare-seeking among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Kaihua County from 2016 to 2025. Preventive Medicine, 2026, 38(5): 460-463.