RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Neighbourhood risk factors of recurrent tuberculosis in Cape Town: a cohort study using geocoded notification data JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health JO J Epidemiol Community Health FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 56 OP 62 DO 10.1136/jech-2022-219622 VO 77 IS 1 A1 Molemans, Marjan A1 van Leth, Frank A1 McKelly, David Henry A1 Wood, Robin A1 Hermans, Sabine YR 2023 UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/77/1/56.abstract AB Background Individuals with a history of tuberculosis (TB) disease are at higher risk of developing a subsequent episode than those without. Considering the role of social and environmental factors in tuberculosis, we assessed neighbourhood-level risk factors associated with recurrent tuberculosis in Cape Town, South Africa.Methods This cohort consisted of patients who completed treatment for their first drug-sensitive TB episode between 2003 and 2015. Addresses were geocoded at neighbourhood level. Data on neighbourhood-level factors were obtained from the Census 2011 (household size, population density) and the City of Cape Town (Socio-Economic Index). Neighbourhood-level TB burden was calculated annually by dividing the number of notified TB episodes by the population in that neighbourhood. Multilevel survival analysis was performed with the outcome recurrent TB, defined as a second episode of TB, and controlling for individual-level risk factors (age, gender and time since first episode in years). Follow-up ended at the second episode, or on 31 December 2015, whichever came first.Results The study included 173 421 patients from 700 neighbourhoods. Higher Socio-Economic Index was associated with a lower risk of recurrence compared with average Socio-Economic Index. An increased risk was found for higher household size and TB burden, with an increase of 20% for every additional person in mean household size and 10% for every additional TB episode/100 inhabitants. No association was found with population density.Conclusion Recurrent TB was associated with increased household size and TB burden at neighbourhood level. These findings could be used to target TB screening activities.Data may be obtained from a third party and are not publicly available. These data were obtained from the Cape Town Electronic TB register,after receiving permission from Cape Town City Health (Health.Services@capetown.gov.za). Access to the data was limited to the conduct of relevant analysis and publication of results. A request to access data can be made direct to the Cape Town City Health.