The World Health Organization recommends using chest X-ray (CXR) in active case finding (ACF) to improve case detection. This study aimed to describe the spectrum and outcomes of TB disease diagnosed through a mobile community based ACF program in Yogyakarta. This prospective cohort study included people attending a TB ACF program in Yogyakarta between 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2022. Participants ≥10 years old underwent CXR, symptom screening, and Xpert MTB/RIF testing of sputum. Subclinical TB was defined as asymptomatic active TB, whether bacteriologically confirmed or not. Treatment outcome data were obtained from the national program TB database. 47,735 people attended the ACF program; the yield of TB disease was 0.86% (393/45,938). There were 217 symptomatic cases, of whom 72 (33.2%) were bacteriologically confirmed, and 176 asymptomatic cases, with 52 (29.5%) bacteriologically confirmed. Treatment success was 70.7% with high loss to follow up (9%) and not evaluated (17.1%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated weak evidence for lower unsuccessful outcomes in symptomatic versus subclinical TB (aOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.36-0.998). TB ACF programs utilizing CXR may diagnose a high proportion of subclinical TB. Linkage to care in ACF program is important to increase successful treatment outcomes.
Keywords: active case finding; spectrum TB disease; subclinical TB disease; treatment outcome.