Tuberculosis mortality: death from a curable disease, Connecticut, 2007–2009

Health Department Tuberculosis (TB) Control program, Connecticut, United States1) To assess TB-relatedness of deaths and missed opportunities among Connecticut patients who died with TB, and 2) to identify factors associated with death.The study population consisted of all persons diagnosed with TB and reported to the Connecticut TB Control Program during 2007-2009. TB Control Program records, medical records, autopsy reports and death certificates of decedents were reviewed. A tool was used to categorize TB-relatedness of deaths and identify missed opportunities in diagnosis and medical treatment among TB-related deaths. Surveillance data regarding TB survivors were used for comparison to identify factors associated with death.During 2007-2009, 20/300 (7%) persons with TB died; 14 (70%) decedents had at least one medical comorbidity and 17 (85%) deaths were TB-related. Among patients who had a TB-related death, 16 (94%) had ≥1 missed opportunity identified. Excess alcohol use (risk ratio [RR] 4.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-11.0) and age > 64 years (RR 5.7, 95%CI 2.5-13.1) were associated with death.The majority of deaths among Connecticut TB patients were TB-related. Missed opportunities were common. Excess alcohol use and older age might indicate a need for monitoring to prevent death.