To analyze the adverse treatment outcome status and spatio-temporal characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis cases among students in Qinghai Province, providing a reference basis for pulmonary tuberculosis prevention and control in schools.

The data of student pulmonary tuberculosis cases during 2013-2023 in Qinghai Province were obtained through the "National Tuberculosis Management Information System", and the treatment outcome was retrospectively analyzed. The Joinpoint model was applied to analyze the adverse outcome rate trend. Global and local spatial autocorrelation analysis, and spatiotemporal scan cluster analysis were conducted on the adverse outcome rate of pulmonary tuberculosis among students in Qinghai Province.

During 2013-2023, 488 cases of adverse outcomes were reported among 6 155 students with pulmonary tuberculosis in Qinghai Province, with an adverse outcome rate of 7.93%. The reporting adverse outcome rate of pulmonary tuberculosis among students showed a downward trend from 2013 to 2023 (APC=-16.20, t=-3.89, P < 0.05). The results of spatial autocorrelation showed that the adverse outcome rate of pulmonary tuberculosis was Moran's I >0 among students in Qinghai Province. Among them, there was a spatially positive correlation in the adverse outcome rate of pulmonary tuberculosis among students in 2020, 2021 and 2022(all Z>1.96, all P < 0.05). The results of clustering and outlier analysis in local spatial autocorrelation showed that the areas with high-high aggregation were mainly concentrated in Yushu Prefecture(Zhiduo County, Zaduo County, Nangqian County, Yushu City), Huangnan Prefecture (Zeku County, Henan County) and Hainan Prefecture (Tongde County). The low-low concentration areas were distributed in Haidong City, Xining City, Haibei Prefecture (Gangcha County, Qilian County), Haixi Prefecture (Tianjun County, Ulan County), Hainan Prefecture (Gonghe County, Guide County) and Huangnan Prefecture (Tongren City, Jianzha County). The spatio-temporal scanning showed that a total of two possible aggregation areas had been detected. Among them, the first-level aggregation area composed of 10 counties and districts in Yushu Prefecture and Guoluo Prefecture of Qinghai Province, and the cluster radius was 658.09 km, the RR was 10.58, and the LLR was 305.91; the second-level aggregation area was composed of 16 counties and districts in Hainan Prefecture, Haixi Prefecture, Huangnan Prefecture and Guoluo Prefecture, and the cluster radius was 407.02 km, the RR was 9.83, and the LLR was 152.48 (both P < 0.05).

The reporting rates of adverse treatment outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis cases among students in Qinghai Province remain relatively high and unevenly distribute throughout the province. Supervision should be strengthened to improve cases compliance, and to reduce student pulmonary tuberculosis adverse treatment outcomes incidence.